CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of the Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0173299 filed on Dec. 31, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to an electroluminescence display device having a through-hole in a display area, and more particularly, to an electroluminescence display device provided with a device, such as a camera hole, for receiving light by passing through a substrate or a through-hole, into which an additional device passing through a substrate can be inserted, arranged in a display area.

Discussion of the Related Art

Among display devices, an electroluminescence display device is a self-light emitting device, and has advantages in that a viewing angle and a contrast ratio are more excellent than those of other display devices. Further, since the electroluminescence display device does not require a separate backlight, it is advantageous that the electroluminescence display device is able to be thin and lightweight and has low power consumption. Furthermore, an organic light emitting display device of the electroluminescence display device has advantages in that it can be driven at a low direct current voltage, has a fast response speed, and has a low manufacturing cost.

The electroluminescence display device includes a plurality of electroluminescence diodes. The electroluminescence diode includes an anode electrode, a light emitting layer formed on the anode electrode, and a cathode electrode formed on the light emitting layer. If a high potential voltage is applied to the anode electrode and a low potential voltage is applied to the cathode electrode, holes in the anode electrode and electrons in the cathode electrode respectively move to the light emitting layer. When holes and electrons are combined with each other in the light emitting layer, exciton is formed during an excitation process, and light is generated due to energy from the exciton. The electroluminescence display device displays an image by electrically controlling the amount of light generated from the light emitting layers of the plurality of electroluminescence diodes partitioned by banks.

The electroluminescence display device is applied as various products in various fields due to its ultra-thin profile and excellent flexibility. However, the electroluminescence display device has a drawback in that it is vulnerable to water and oxygen. For this reason, in order that the electroluminescence display device is applied to various fields and developed as various types of display devices, a method for shielding water and oxygen from permeating into the electroluminescence display device is important. Particularly, if a through-hole is located inside a display area, development of a structure that can shield water and oxygen from permeating into the periphery of the through-hole is important.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an electroluminescence display device that maximizes an area of a display area, in which an additional device, such as a camera hole, for receiving light by passing through a substrate is arranged, or a through-hole for providing components by passing through a substrate is arranged in the display area for displaying an image. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an electroluminescence display device having a structure that can shield water permeation from a light emitting diode of a display element arranged near a through-hole even though the through-hole is provided in a display area.

To achieve the above objects, an electroluminescence display device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a substrate having a display area and a non-display area arranged near the display area; a light emitting diode in the display area; an encapsulation layer on the light emitting diode; a through-hole arranged inside the display area to penetrate the substrate; an inner dam surrounding the through-hole; a trench arranged between the inner dam and the through-hole; and an etch-stopper arranged between the trench and the through-hole on an insulating layer.

For example, the electroluminescence display device further comprises the insulating layer disposed on the display area and passing below the inner dam and the trench except the through-hole.

For example, the electroluminescence display device further comprises an upper passivation film disposed on the display area and covering the inner dam, the trench and an upper surface of the etch-stopper.

For example, the display area includes pixels having the light emitting diode for expressing image information and a driving element for driving the light emitting diode, the pixels being arranged in a matrix arrangement. The through-hole is an area where the substrate, the light emitting diode and the driving element are not provided.

For example, the trench includes a recessed portion recessed to reach an upper surface of the substrate between the through-hole and the inner dam.

For example, the trench includes a bottom surface, an upper surface and a sidewall. The bottom surface is defined by the upper surface of the substrate exposed by the recessed portion of the trench. The upper surface of the trench is defined on the uppermost layer near the recessed portion of the trench. The sidewall of the trench connects the bottom surface of the trench with the upper surface of the trench. A dummy light emitting layer of the light emitting diode is disposed on the bottom surface of the trench.

For example, a light emitting layer is disposed on the upper surface of the trench.

For example, a dummy common electrode is disposed on the dummy light emitting layer and comes into contact with the sidewall of the trench.

For example, the sidewall of the trench has a saw-tooth shape due to a difference in an etching rate of thin film layers exposed to the sidewall of the trench.

For example, the insulating layer includes a first insulating film and a second insulating film, and an interval between the sidewall defined by the first insulating film is larger than an interval between the sidewall defined by the second insulating film.

For example, the electroluminescence display device further comprises a thin film layer covering the inner dam and the trench in the display area.

For example, the encapsulation layer comprises a first inorganic encapsulation layer, a second inorganic encapsulation layer and an organic encapsulation layer disposed between the first and second inorganic encapsulation layers.

For example, the thin film layer comprises the first inorganic encapsulation layer and the second inorganic encapsulation layer.

For example, the thin film layer further comprises a light emitting layer of the light emitting diode.

For example, an end of the insulating layer is arranged between an end of the thin film layer and an end of the through-hole.

For example, the end of the insulating layer is disposed closer to the through-hole than an end of the etch-stopper, and the end of the etch-stopper is disposed closer to the through-hole than an end of the first inorganic encapsulation layer.

For example, the upper passivation film covers a side surface of the etch-stopper adjacent to the through-hole and a part of the upper surface of the etch-stopper.

For example, the upper passivation film covers stepped portions formed by the thin film layer, the etch stopper and the insulating layer.

For example, the upper passivation film reaches to an end of the through-hole.

For example, the light emitting layer covers a part of the etch-stopper in the display area, and is disconnected at the trench. The first inorganic encapsulation layer and the second inorganic encapsulation layer cover one portion of the etch-stopper in the display area. The upper passivation film covers the second inorganic encapsulation layer, the first inorganic encapsulation layer, a common electrode, the light emitting layer and the etch stopper.

For example, the thin film layer covers a part of the upper surface of the etch-stopper.

For example, a touch electrode is disposed on the upper passivation film. The touch electrode and the touch buffer film included in a touch sensor can be disposed on the encapsulation layer. The touch electrode can be disposed on the touch buffer film in contact with the encapsulation layer. Alternatively, the touch electrode can be disposed on the encapsulation layer without the touch buffer film. The touch electrode can be disposed on the encapsulation layer without the touch buffer film. In this case, the touch buffer film and the touch electrode are sequentially formed on the encapsulation layer. And then an organic cover layer can be disposed on the touch electrode.

For example, the etch-stopper is composed of organic materials. In addition, at least one of a touch dielectric film and the touch buffer film included in the mutual capacitance touch sensor having the first and second touch electrodes can be formed to extend to at least one of the inner dam.

In the electroluminescence display device according to the present disclosure, since the through-hole is provided in the display area, an area ratio occupied by the non-display area is minimized, and an area ratio of the display area is maximized. In the electroluminescence display device according to the present disclosure, since the trench is provide near the through-hole, continuity of the light emitting layer is partially disconnected, whereby water is prevented from permeating into the light emitting diode. Also, an upper passivation film covering a section of thin films etched in a portion of the through-hole is further provided, whereby water or oxygen is prevented from permeating into a pixel area. Moreover, exposed sections of the thin films deposited in the portion of the through-hole are not arranged on the same vertical surface but arranged on a plurality of vertical surfaces spaced apart from one another at a certain distance, whereby a structure for enhancing an encapsulation power and an adhesive power of the upper passivation film is provided. In the electroluminescence display device according to the present disclosure, since a hole passing through the display panel is provided in the display area, applicability of the display device is high, and the display device can be applied to various products. In the electroluminescence display device according to the present disclosure, even though the hole passing through the display panel is formed in the display area, external water and particles are shielded from permeating and being diffused into the display element, whereby it is possible to make sure of stability and lifetime of the product.

In addition to the effects of the present disclosure as mentioned above, additional objects and features of the present disclosure will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description of the present disclosure.

