Patent Publication Number: US-11653551-B2

Title: Organic light emitting display apparatus with penetrating portion and method of manufacturing the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This is a continuation application based on currently pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/855,373, filed on Dec. 27, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/855,373 claims priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0180419, filed on Dec. 27, 2016 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     One or more embodiments described herein relate to a display apparatus and a method for manufacturing a display apparatus. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     An organic light-emitting display is a self-emissive device that exhibits a wide viewing angle, excellent contrast, and fast response speed. As a result, these displays are suitable for use in mobile phones, televisions, and other electronic devices. 
     One type of organic light-emitting display includes a flexible substrate made of synthetic resin. The flexibility of the substrate may make it difficult to handle during manufacturing. In an attempt to solve this problem, the flexible substrate may be placed on rigid supporting substrate during manufacturing. The supporting substrate is then separated from the flexible substrate at a later time. In order to form some layers of the flexible substrate, a fine metal mask (FMM) may be used. However, it may not be easy to apply a new design to the display area of such a display because of the various layers. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one or more embodiments, a display apparatus includes a flexible substrate including a display area having a first area, a peripheral area adjacent to the display area, and a first penetrating portion corresponding to the first area; a thin-film transistor unit in the display area and at least a portion of the peripheral area, the thin-film transistor unit including a thin-film transistor and an insulation layer and having a second penetrating portion at a location corresponding to the first penetrating portion; and a light-emitting unit on the thin-film transistor unit and including a pixel electrode, an intermediate layer including an emission layer, and a counter electrode. 
     The first penetrating portion and the second penetrating portion may have a same inner surface. The display apparatus may include a first dam on the thin-film transistor unit and surrounding the second penetrating portion. The first dam may be spaced apart from the second penetrating portion by a predetermined distance. The insulation layer may include at least one inorganic insulation film, and an inorganic insulation film in the second area, which is defined by the predetermined distance, includes at least one fine hole. 
     The display apparatus may include a second dam on an edge of the thin-film transistor unit. The display apparatus may include an encapsulator on the counter electrode and including an organic encapsulation layer, wherein the organic encapsulation layer is between the first dam and the second dam. The display apparatus may include a pixel defining film that defines a pixel area by exposing a center portion of the pixel electrode and covering an edge of the pixel electrode, wherein the first dam and the second dam include a same material as the pixel defining film. At least a portion of the counter electrode may be on the first dam. 
     In accordance with one or more other embodiments, a method for manufacturing a display apparatus includes forming a flexible substrate including a peripheral area adjacent to a display area on a supporting substrate, the display area including a first area and a second area surrounding an outer area of the first area and being spaced apart from the first area by a predetermined distance; forming a thin-film transistor unit including a thin-film transistor and an insulation layer in the display area and at least a portion of the peripheral area of the flexible substrate; forming a first dam surrounding the second area; laser-cutting the thin-film transistor unit and the flexible substrate along the first area; forming a light-emitting unit including a pixel electrode, an intermediate layer including an emission layer, and a counter electrode on the thin-film transistor unit; and forming an encapsulator including an organic encapsulation layer on the counter electrode. 
     The method may include forming a pixel defining film on the thin-film transistor unit to expose a center portion of the pixel electrode and to surround an edge of the pixel electrode, wherein the forming of the first dam and the forming of the pixel defining film are performed simultaneously. 
     The laser-cutting may include forming a first penetrating portion in the flexible substrate; and forming a second penetrating portion in the thin-film transistor unit. The first penetrating portion and the second penetrating portion may have a same inner surface. The method may include forming a second dam on the thin-film transistor unit to surround an edge of the thin-film transistor unit. Forming the first dam and forming the second dam may be performed simultaneously. Forming the encapsulator may include forming the organic encapsulation layer between the first dam and second dam. 
     The method may include attaching a top film to the top of the encapsulator; separating the flexible substrate from the supporting substrate; attaching a bottom film to the flexible substrate separated from the supporting substrate; cell-cutting the bottom film and the flexible substrate; removing the bottom film and attaching a protective film to the flexible substrate; and removing the top film. The counter electrode may be integrally formed on the flexible substrate, and at least a portion of the counter electrode may be on the first dam. 
     Forming the encapsulator may include forming an inorganic encapsulation layer on the organic encapsulation layer, and at least a portion of the inorganic encapsulation layer may be formed on the counter electrode on the first dam. The insulation layer may include an inorganic insulation film, and at least one fine hole may be formed in the inorganic insulation film in the second area. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features will become apparent to those of skill in the art by describing in detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIGS.  1 A and  1 B  illustrate an operation in an embodiment of a process for manufacturing a display apparatus; 
         FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  illustrate another operation in the embodiment of a process for manufacturing a display apparatus; 
         FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  illustrate another operation in the embodiment of a process for manufacturing a display apparatus; 
         FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  illustrate another operation in the embodiment of a process for manufacturing a display apparatus; 
         FIGS.  5 A and  5 B  illustrate another operation in the embodiment of a process for manufacturing a display apparatus; 
         FIGS.  6 A and  6 B  illustrate another operation in the embodiment of a process for manufacturing a display apparatus; 
         FIGS.  7 A and  7 B  illustrate another operation in the embodiment of a process for manufacturing a display apparatus; 
         FIGS.  8 A and  8 B  illustrate another operation in the embodiment of a process for manufacturing a display apparatus; 
         FIG.  9    illustrates an embodiment of a display area of a display apparatus; and 
         FIG.  10    illustrates an embodiment of a portion of a display apparatus adjacent to a penetrating hole. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example embodiments are described with reference to the drawings; however, they may be embodied in different 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 convey exemplary implementations to those skilled in the art. The embodiments (or portions thereof) may be combined to form additional embodiments. 
     In the drawings, the dimensions of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity of illustration. It will also be understood that when a layer or element is referred to as being “on” another layer or substrate, it can be directly on the other layer or substrate, or intervening layers may also be present. Further, it will be understood that when a layer is referred to as being “under” another layer, it can be directly under, and one or more intervening layers may also be present. In addition, it will also be understood that when a layer is referred to as being “between” two layers, it can be the only layer between the two layers, or one or more intervening layers may also be present. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
     When an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the another element or be indirectly connected or coupled to the another element with one or more intervening elements interposed therebetween. In addition, when an element is referred to as “including” a component, this indicates that the element may further include another component instead of excluding another component unless there is different disclosure. 
       FIGS.  1 A and  1 B  illustrate plan and cross-sectional views of an embodiment of a process for manufacturing a display apparatus. 
     Referring first to  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B , the method includes disposing a flexible substrate  100  on a supporting substrate  10 . Since the flexible substrate  100  has a flexible characteristic, it may not be easy for the flexible substrate  100  alone to sufficiently support various layers that are to be disposed on the flexible substrate  100 . Therefore, after the flexible substrate  100  is disposed on the supporting substrate  10  (which is able to support the flexible substrate  100 ), various devices and layers may be disposed on the flexible substrate  100 . The supporting substrate  10  may include, for example, metal or a glass material with a rigidity greater than the flexible substrate  100 . 
     The flexible substrate  100  may include various materials. Examples include metal or plastic material, e.g., polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylenenaphthalate (PEN), polyimide, etc. The flexible substrate  100  may include a non-display area NDA and a display area DA. The display area NDA displays an image and includes light-emitting devices. The non-display area DA does not display an image and may include, for example, one or more circuits or wires for driving display of an image in the display area DA. 
     A sacrificing layer may be between the supporting substrate  10  and the flexible substrate  100 . The sacrificing layer may reduce or minimize damage to the flexible substrate  100 , or various devices and layers on the flexible substrate  100 , when the flexible substrate  100  is separated from the supporting substrate  10 . The sacrificing layer may include various materials. For example, the sacrificing layer may include an inorganic material layer including silicon, an organic material layer including an organic material, or a metal layer including a metal. 
     A thin-film transistor unit  200  may be disposed on the flexible substrate  100 . The thin-film transistor unit  200  may include a thin-film transistor  210  and insulation layers  220  and  230  (e.g., see  FIG.  9   ). The thin-film transistor unit  200  may be disposed in at least portions of the display area DA and the non-display area NDA of the flexible substrate  100 . The thin-film transistor unit  200  in the display area DA may include various devices, such as a thin-film transistor and a capacitor for supplying electricity to a light-emitting device. The thin-film transistor unit  200  in the non-display area NDA may include one or more circuits and wires for controlling display of an image in the display area DA. The thin-film transistor unit  200  may also include an insulation layer, which, for example, includes a plurality of organic encapsulation films  220  (e.g., see  FIG.  9   ). The organic encapsulation film  220  may insulate electrodes from one another to constitute a thin-film transistor. 
     A first dam  242  may be on the thin-film transistor unit  200  to define a first area A 1  in the display area DA of the flexible substrate  100  and a second area A 2  outside the first area A 1 . The first area A 1  may be an area inside the first dam  242 , in which at least a portion of the flexible substrate  100  and at least a portion of the thin-film transistor unit  200  are removed by laser-cutting. 
     A second dam  244  may be on the thin-film transistor unit  200  and may surround the edges of the thin-film transistor unit  200 . The second dam  244  may serve as a partitioning wall for preventing an organic encapsulation layer  420  of an encapsulator  400  (e.g., as described below) from flowing to outside of the flexible substrate  100 . 
     The first dam  242  may also serve as a partitioning wall to prevent the organic encapsulation layer  420  of the encapsulator  400  from flowing into the first area A 1 . The first dam  242  and the second dam  244  may include a same material. For example, the first dam  242  and the second dam  244  may include a same material as the pixel defining film  240 . The first dam  242 , the second dam  244 , and the pixel defining film  240  may be disposed, for example, in the same process. 
     A third area A 3  may be between the first dam  242  and the second dam  244 . The third area A 3  may be a light-emitting unit which includes light emitting devices, e.g., organic light-emitting devices. 
     Referring to  FIG.  9   , a pixel electrode  310  may be disposed on the thin-film transistor unit  200  before the first dam  242  and the second dam  244  are disposed. After the pixel electrode  310  is disposed, a pixel defining film may be disposed to cover the edges of the pixel electrode  310  and expose the center portion of the pixel electrode  310 . Therefore, the first dam  242  and the second dam  244  may be disposed in the same process with the pixel defining film  240 , and may be disposed on the thin-film transistor unit  200  after the pixel electrode  310  is first disposed. 
       FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  illustrate plan and cross-sectional views of an additional operation in the embodiment of a process for manufacturing a display apparatus. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , the additional operation may include a laser-cutting operation for the flexible substrate  100  and the thin-film transistor unit  200  on the supporting substrate  10 . As described above, the flexible substrate  100  has the display area DA and the non-display area NDA, and the display area DA may include the second area A 2  adjacent to the first area A 1  with a certain interval therebetween. At this time, the first dam  242  may surround the second area A 2 . The laser-cutting operation may cut the thin-film transistor unit  200  and the flexible substrate  100  along the first area A 1  by irradiating a first laser beam L 1 . The second area A 2  is therefore between a surface cut by the laser-cutting operation and the first dam  242 . 
     The laser-cutting operation for the flexible substrate  100  and the thin-film transistor unit  200  may include formation of a first penetrating portion  100   a  in the flexible substrate  100  and formation of a second penetrating portion  200   a  in the thin-film transistor unit  200 . According to the present embodiment, the laser beam L 1  is irradiated in a direction from the thin-film transistor unit  200 . As a result, the first penetrating portion  100   a  is formed in the flexible substrate  100  after the second penetrating portion  200   a  is formed in the thin-film transistor unit  200 . In one embodiment, when the laser beam L 1  is irradiated in a direction from the supporting substrate  10 , the second penetrating portion  200   a  may be formed in the thin-film transistor unit  200  after the first penetrating portion  100   a  is formed in the flexible substrate  100 . 
     According to the present embodiment, the first penetrating portion  100   a  and the second penetrating portion  200   a  may have a same inner surface. This is because the first penetrating portion  100   a  and the second penetrating portion  200   a  may be formed in a same laser-cutting operation, for example, as described above. 
     A dummy portion DM may be on the first area A 1  with the laser-cut portions as a boundary. The dummy portion DM may include at least a portion of the flexible substrate  100  and at least a portion of the thin-film transistor unit  200 . According to the present embodiment, the first area A 1  and the second area A 2  are circular areas and the dummy portion DM is also formed to have a circular shape. In another embodiment, the first area A 1  and the second area A 2  may have various other or different shapes. 
       FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  illustrate plan and cross-sectional views of an additional operation of the embodiment of a process for manufacturing a display apparatus. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , the additional operation may include disposing a light-emitting unit  300  and an encapsulator  400  on the thin-film transistor unit  200 . The light-emitting unit  300  may include a pixel electrode  310 , an intermediate layer including an emission layer  320 , and a counter electrode  330 .  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  show that only the counter electrode  330  and the pixel electrode  310  are disposed on the thin-film transistor unit  200  before the counter electrode  330  is disposed. Also, a pixel defining film  240  may be disposed to define a light-emitting unit by covering the edges of the pixel electrode  310  and exposing the center portion of the pixel electrode  310 . The emission layer  320  may then be disposed on the pixel electrode  310  (e.g., see  FIG.  9   ). The counter electrode  330  may be disposed on the front surface of the thin-film transistor unit  200  to cover the emission layer  320 . Thus, in one embodiment, the counter electrode  330  may be integrally disposed on the thin-film transistor unit  200 , unlike the pixel electrode  310 , which is patterned for each pixel. 
     According to the present embodiment, at least a portion of the counter electrode  330  may be disposed on the first dam  242 .  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  show that a portion of the counter electrode  330  is located only on the first dam  242 . In one embodiment, at least a portion of the counter electrode  330  may also be located on the second dam  244 . 
     After the counter electrode  330  is disposed, the encapsulator  400  may be disposed on the counter electrode  330 . The encapsulator  400  may include the organic encapsulation layer  420  shown in  FIG.  3 B . Referring to  FIG.  9   , the encapsulator  400  may be disposed, for example, by sequentially stacking a first inorganic encapsulation layer  410 , the organic encapsulation layer  420 , and a second inorganic encapsulation layer  430 . 
     According to the present embodiment, the organic encapsulation layer  420  may be disposed between first dam  242  and second dam  244 . The organic encapsulation layer  420  is between the first dam  242  and the second dam  244 , because the organic encapsulation layer  420  is prevented from flowing to the outside by the first dam  242  and the second dam  244 . For example, the first dam  242  and the second dam  244  serve as partitioning walls to locate the organic encapsulation layer  420  between the first dam  242  and the second dam  244 . 
     At least a portion of the counter electrode  330  may be on the dummy portion DM in the first area A 1 . At least a portion of the counter electrode  330  may also be on a portion of the supporting substrate  10  exposed by the first penetrating portion  100   a  and the second penetrating portion  200   a . This is because the counter electrode  330  is disposed on the front surface of the thin-film transistor unit  200 , as described above. 
       FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  illustrate plan and cross-sectional views of an additional operation of the embodiment of a process for manufacturing a display apparatus. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B , the additional operation includes attaching a top film  20  to the top of the encapsulator  400 . The top film  20  may be attached to protect the flexible substrate  100  and features on the flexible substrate  100  during the manufacturing process.  FIG.  4 B  shows that the top film  20  is attached to contact the counter electrode  330  on the first dam  242 . In one embodiment, the encapsulator  400  may be disposed on the counter electrode  330  and at least portions of the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  and the second inorganic encapsulation layer  430  may be located on the counter electrode  330 . Therefore, the top film  20  may substantially contact the second inorganic encapsulation layer  430 . 
     A separate functional layer may be disposed on the second inorganic encapsulation layer  430 . The top film  20  may substantially contact the functional layer. 
       FIGS.  5 A and  5 B  illustrate plan and cross-sectional views of an additional operation of the embodiment of a process for manufacturing a display apparatus. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , after the flexible substrate  100  is separated from the supporting substrate  10 , the additional operation includes attaching a bottom film  30  to the bottom surface of the flexible substrate  100 . The bottom film  30  may be a film that is temporarily attached for a cell-cutting process (to be described later) and may include a plastic material, such as but not limited to polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) and polyethyeleneterephthalate (PET). 
     Separation of the flexible substrate  100  from the supporting substrate  10  may be performed using various methods used in semiconductor manufacturing. A sacrificing layer may be further interposed between the supporting substrate  10  and the flexible substrate  100 . Depending on the characteristics of the sacrificing layer, a method of irradiating a laser beam for separation or dissolving the sacrificing layer using the moisture or a solvent may be used. 
       FIGS.  6 A and  6 B  illustrates plan and cross-sectional views of an additional operation of the embodiment of a process for manufacturing a display apparatus. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6 A and  6 B , additional operation is a cell-cutting operation for the bottom film  30  and the flexible substrate  100 . The cell-cutting operation may be performed, for example, by irradiating a laser beam L 2  along a cutting line. Through the cell-cutting operation, the bottom film  30 , the flexible substrate  100 , and at least a portion of the thin-film transistor unit  200  on the flexible substrate  100  may be cut. 
     In order to prevent damage to the thin-film transistor unit  200  on the flexible substrate  100  during the cell-cutting operation, a cell-cutting line may optionally be formed without the organic encapsulation film  220  of the thin-film transistor unit  200 . 
       FIGS.  7 A and  7 B  illustrate plan and cross-sectional views of another operation of the embodiment of a process for manufacturing a display apparatus. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  7 A and  7 B , after the bottom film  30  is removed from the flexible substrate  100 , the additional operation includes attaching a protective film  40  to the bottom surface of the flexible substrate  100 . When the bottom film  30  is removed from the flexible substrate  100 , the dummy portion DM in the first area A 1  may be removed together with the bottom film  30 . Therefore, a penetrating hole H may be formed in the first area A 1  of the flexible substrate  100 . The penetrating hole H is in the display area DA and, for example, may be used for various applications by mounting a camera therein in a subsequent process or by being combined with other parts. 
     The protection film  40  protects the bottom surface of the flexible substrate  100  having flexible characteristics. The durability of the flexible substrate  100  may be improved by attaching the protection film  40  to the bottom surface. The protective film  40  may be provided with an adhesive layer. The protective film  40  may be attached to the flexible substrate  100  via the adhesive layer. Examples of materials for the protection film  40  include a polymer resin, such as polyethersulphone (PES), polyacrylate (PAR), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethyelenen napthalate (PEN), polyethyeleneterephthalate (PET), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyallylate, polyimide (PI), polycarbonate (PC), and cellulose acetate propionate (CAP). 
       FIGS.  8 A and  8 B  illustrate plan and cross-sectional views of an additional operation of the process for manufacturing a display apparatus according to an example embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  8 A and  8 B , the additional operation includes removing the top film  20 . Therefore, a module for a display apparatus may be manufactured in which the bottom film  30 , the flexible substrate  100 , the thin-film transistor unit  200 , the light-emitting unit  300 , and the encapsulator  400  are sequentially stacked. 
       FIG.  9    illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the display area DA of a display apparatus. Referring to  FIG.  9   , the thin-film transistor  210  includes a semiconductor layer  211  including amorphous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, or an organic semiconductor material, a gate electrode  213 , a source electrode  215   a , and a drain electrode  215   b.    
     A gate insulation film  226  including an inorganic material (e.g., silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and/or silicon oxynitride) may be between the semiconductor layer  211  and the gate electrode  213  to secure insulation between the semiconductor layer  211  and the gate electrode  213 . An interlayer insulation film  228  including an inorganic material (e.g., silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and/or silicon oxynitride) may be on the gate electrode  213 . The source electrode  215   a  and the drain electrode  215   b  may be on the interlayer insulation film  228 . Such an insulating film including an inorganic material may be disposed, for example, by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or atomic layer deposition (ALD). The same also applies to embodiments described below and modifications thereof 
     A barrier layer  222  and a buffer layer  224  including an inorganic material (e.g., silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and/or silicon oxynitride) may be between the thin-film transistor  210  and the substrate  100  having a structure as described above. The barrier layer  222  and the buffer layer  224  may planarize the top surface of the substrate  100  and/or may prevent impurities from the flexible substrate  100  from permeating into the semiconductor layer  211  of the thin-film transistor  210 . 
     A planarizing layer  230  may be on the thin-film transistor  210 . For example, when an organic light-emitting diode is on the thin-film transistor  210  as shown in  FIG.  9   , the planarizing layer  230  may substantially planarize the top of the passivation layer covering the thin-film transistor  210 . The planarizing layer  230  may include, for example, an organic material, e.g., acryl, benzocyclobutene (BCB), or hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO). The planarizing layer  230  is shown as a single layer in  FIG.  2   , but the planarizing layer  230  may be multilayered in another embodiment. 
     An intermediate layer may be on the planarizing layer  230  in the display area DA of the substrate  100 . The intermediate layer may include the pixel electrode  310 , the counter electrode  330 , and the emission layer  320  therebetween. The pixel electrode  310  is electrically connected to the thin-film transistor  210 , through the source electrode  215   a  or the drain electrode  215   b , through an opening in the planarizing layer  230  as shown in  FIG.  9   . 
     The pixel defining film  240  may be on the planarizing layer  230  to define a pixel by having openings corresponding to respective sub-pixels, that is, an opening that exposes at least the center portion of the pixel electrode  310 . Furthermore, as shown in  FIG.  9   , the pixel defining film  240  increases the distance between the edge of the pixel electrode  310  and the counter electrode  330  above the pixel electrode  310 , thereby preventing occurrence of an arc or the like at an edge of the pixel electrode  310 . The pixel defining film  240  may include, for example, an organic material, e.g., polyimide or hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO). 
     The intermediate layer of the organic light-emitting device may include a monomer or polymer material. When a monomer material is included, the intermediate layer may have a single-layer structure or a composite structure in which a hole injection layer (HIL), a hole transport layer (HTL), the emission layer (EML)  320 , an electron transport layer (ETL), and/or an electron injection layer (EIL) are stacked. The intermediate layer may include various organic materials, e.g., copper phthalocyanine (CuPc), N,N′-Di(naphthalen-1-yl) (NPB), and tris-8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum (Alq 3 ). These layers may be arranged using, for example, a vacuum deposition method. 
     When the intermediate layer includes a polymer material, the intermediate layer may have a structure including a HTL and the EML  320 . In one embodiment, the hole transport layer may include PEDOT, and the emission layer  320  may include a polymer material such as poly-phenylenevinylene (PPV) and polyfluorene. Such an intermediate layer may be arranged using a screen printing method, an inkjet printing method, a laser induced thermal imaging (LITI) method, or another method. 
     The intermediate layer may have a different structure and/or different materials in another embodiment. Furthermore, the intermediate layer may include a single layer over a plurality of pixel electrodes  310  or may include layers patterned to respectively correspond to the plurality of pixel electrodes  310 . 
     The counter electrode  330  is on and may cover the display area DA, as shown in  FIG.  9   . In one embodiment, the counter electrode  330  may be integrally disposed as a single component with respect to a plurality of organic light-emitting devices and may correspond to the plurality of pixel electrodes  310 . 
     The organic light-emitting device may be easily damaged by moisture or oxygen from the outside. The encapsulator  400  may cover and protect the organic light-emitting device from the moisture and oxygen. The encapsulator  400  covers the display area DA and may extend to the outside the display area DA. The encapsulator  400  may include the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410 , the organic encapsulation layer  420 , and the second inorganic encapsulation layer  430  as shown in  FIG.  9   . 
     The first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  covers the counter electrode  330  and may include, for example, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and/or silicon oxynitride. One or more optional layers (e.g., a capping layer) may be between the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  and the counter electrode  330 . 
     Since the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  is along the underlying structure, the top surface of the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  may not be flat as shown in  FIG.  9   . The organic encapsulation layer  420  covers the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410 . Unlike the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410 , the organic encapsulation layer  420  may have a substantially flat top surface. For example, the organic encapsulation layer  420  may have a substantially flat top surface at a portion corresponding to the display area DA. The organic encapsulation layer  420  may include one or more materials including but not limited to polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polycarbonate, polyimide, polyethylene sulfonate, polyoxymethylene, polyarylate, and/or hexamethyldisiloxane. 
     The second inorganic encapsulation layer  430  covers the organic encapsulation layer  420  and, for example, may include silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and/or silicon oxynitride. The second inorganic encapsulation layer  430  may contact the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  at an edge of second inorganic encapsulation layer  430  outside the display area DA, thereby preventing the organic encapsulation layer  420  from being exposed to the outside. 
     As previously described, because the encapsulator  400  includes the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410 , the organic encapsulation layer  420 , and the second inorganic encapsulation layer  430 , the multilayered structure may prevent any cracks that form in the encapsulator  400  from being connected to one another between the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  and the organic encapsulation layer  420  or between the organic encapsulation layer  420  and the second inorganic encapsulation layer  430 . As a result, formation of a path through which moisture or oxygen from the outside penetrates into the display area DA may be prevented, reduced, or minimized. 
     A polarizing plate may be disposed on the encapsulator  400 , for example, by an optically clear adhesive (OCA). The polarizing plate may reduce reflection of external light. For example, when external light passes through the polarizing plate, reflects from the top surface of the counter electrode  330 , and passes through the polarizing plate again, the phase of the external light may be changed as a result of passing through the polarizer twice. Because the phase of the reflected light is different from the phase of the external light incident to the polarizing plate, destructive interference occurs. Therefore, visibility may be improved as external light reflection is reduced. According to another example embodiment, a black matrix and a color filter without a polarizing plate may be used to reduce reflection of external light in the display apparatus. 
     Touch electrodes may arranged in various patterns on the encapsulator  400  in order to provide a touch screen function. 
     The inorganic material, the buffer layer  224 , the gate insulation film  226 , and the interlayer insulation film  228  of the barrier layer  222  may be collectively referred to as an inorganic insulator  110 . The inorganic insulator  110  may extend from the display area DA toward the non-display area NDA to the edge of the flexible substrate  100 , as shown in  FIG.  9   . 
       FIG.  10    illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of a display apparatus around the penetrating hole H according to an example embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  10   , at least one fine hole  220   a  may be formed in the organic encapsulation film  220  in the second area A 2  of the flexible substrate  100 . As described above, the intermediate layer of the light-emitting unit  300  may include the EML  320  and, in some cases, common layers  322 . Unlike the EML  320 , the common layers  322  may be on the front surface of the flexible substrate  100 . Therefore, the organic encapsulation film  220  on the second area A 2  may have the at least one fine hole  220   a  to prevent the common layer  322  from continuing to the edge where the penetrating hole H is located. 
     The counter electrode  330  may be on the flexible substrate  100  on the common layer  322 , and the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  and the second inorganic encapsulation layer  430  may be on the counter electrode  330 . The first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  and the second inorganic encapsulation layer  430  may extend to the edge of the penetrating hole H. In this case, the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  and the second inorganic encapsulation layer  430  may prevent moisture or oxygen from permeating into the display area DA from the outside. The first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  and the second inorganic encapsulation layer  430  may cover the fine hole  220   a  and be continuous. In one embodiment, the size of the fine hole  220   a  may be less than twice the thickness of the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  or the second inorganic encapsulation layer  430 . 
     Due to the structure of the fine hole  220   a , the common layer  322  may be discontinuous in the second area A 2 , whereas the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  and the second inorganic encapsulation layer  430  may be continuously disposed. 
     In accordance with one or more of the aforementioned embodiments, a display apparatus may have a penetrating hole H in a display area DA. In order to form such the penetrating hole H, a two-stage laser-cutting technique may be used. The penetrating hole H may be formed in the display area DA using a fine metal mask (FMM) of a type used for manufacturing a display apparatus, e.g., without using a specialized fine metal mask. As a result, manufacturing costs may be reduced. Therefore, a design that is difficult to be manufacture using a FMM or a design like the penetrating hole H may be freely manufactured. 
     Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specific terms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation. In some instances, as would be apparent to one of skill in the art as of the filing of the present application, features, characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with a particular embodiment may be used singly or in combination with features, characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with other embodiments unless otherwise indicated. Accordingly, various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments set forth in the claims.