Organic light emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A design for an organic light-emitting display device that increases capacitor capacity and increases aperture ratio by forming an initializing voltage electrode on a different layer than an electrode of the capacitor and forming only one via hole for an entire set of three sub-pixels. One of the source electrodes and the drain electrodes of switching transistors for the three sub-pixels are formed in common, along with the gate electrodes of the switching transistors.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. An organic light-emitting display device, comprising:
 first through third sub-pixels each comprising at least one capacitor, at least one thin-film transistor (TFT), and an organic light-emitting device (OLED);   first, second and third switching devices including one of a common source electrode and a common drain electrode, the first, second and third switching devices being electrically connected to the first through third sub-pixels, respectively to apply an initializing voltage to the first, second and third sub-pixels when the first, second and third switching devices are turned on;   a planarization layer arranged on the first, second and third switching devices;   a via-hole arranged through the planarization layer to expose the one of a common source electrode and a common drain electrode; and   an initializing electrode electrically connected to the one of a common source electrode and a common drain electrode through the via-hole, the initializing electrode to transmit the initializing voltage to the one of a common source electrode and a common drain electrode.   
     
     
       2. The organic light-emitting display device of  claim 1 , the organic light-emitting display device is composed of just one via hole to serve first, second and third sub-pixels. 
     
     
       3. The organic light-emitting display device of  claim 1 , wherein each organic light-emitting device comprises:
 a pixel electrode;   a counter electrode; and   an organic layer arranged between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode.   
     
     
       4. The organic light-emitting display device of  claim 3 , wherein the initializing electrode is comprised of a same material and is arranged on a same layer as the pixel electrode. 
     
     
       5. The organic light-emitting display device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first switching device comprises:
 a first active layer to form a channel, 
 a first gate electrode insulated from the first active layer, 
 a first source electrode electrically connected to the first active layer, and 
 a first drain electrode; 
   wherein the second switching device comprises:
 a second active layer to form a channel, 
 a second gate electrode insulated from the second active layer, 
   a second source electrode electrically connected to the second active layer, and
 a second drain electrode; 
   wherein the third switching device comprises:
 a third active layer to form a channel, 
 a third gate electrode insulated from the third active layer, 
 a third source electrode electrically connected to the third active layer, and 
 a third drain electrode; and 
   wherein the first through third source electrodes commonly constitute a common source electrode.   
     
     
       6. The organic light-emitting display device of  claim 5 , wherein the first, second and third active layers are connected together. 
     
     
       7. The organic light-emitting display device of  claim 5 , wherein the first, second and third gate electrodes are connected together. 
     
     
       8. The organic light-emitting display device of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a gate insulating layer arranged between the first, second and third active layers and the first through third gate electrodes;   an insulating interlayer arranged on the first, second and third gate electrodes; and   a common contact hole arranged in the gate insulating layer and in the insulating interlayer to electrically connect the common source electrode to the first, second and third active layers.   
     
     
       9. The organic light-emitting display device of  claim 8 , the organic light-emitting display device being composed of just one common contact hole to serve the first, second and third sub-pixels. 
     
     
       10. The organic light-emitting display device of  claim 8 , wherein the common contact hole is arranged near the via-hole. 
     
     
       11. A method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display device, the method comprising:
 defining first through third sub-pixels each comprising at least one capacitor, at least one thin-film transistor (TFT), and an organic light-emitting device (OLED);   forming first through third switching devices electrically connected to first through third sub-pixels, respectively, the first through third switching devices include one of a commonly formed drain electrode or a commonly formed source electrode, the first through third switching devices to apply an initializing voltage to the first through third sub-pixels when the first through third switching devices are turned on;   forming a planarization layer on the first through third switching devices;   forming a via-hole through the planarization layer to expose the one of a commonly formed drain electrode or a commonly formed source electrode; and   forming an initializing electrode electrically connected to the one of a commonly formed drain electrode or a commonly formed source electrode via the via-hole to transmit the initializing voltage to the one of a commonly formed drain electrode or a commonly formed source electrode.   
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , the organic light-emitting display device is composed of just one via hole to serve first through third sub-pixels. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein each organic light-emitting device comprises:
 a pixel electrode;   a counter electrode; and   an organic layer arranged between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode.   
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the initializing electrode is comprised of the same material and is arranged on the same layer as the pixel electrode. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first switching device is formed by sequentially forming a first active layer to form a channel, a first gate electrode insulated from the first active layer, a first source electrode electrically connected to the first active layer, and a first drain electrode; the second switching device is formed by sequentially forming a second active layer to form a channel, a second gate electrode insulated from the second active layer, a second source electrode electrically connected to the second active layer, and a second drain electrode; the third switching device is formed by sequentially forming a third active layer to form a channel, a third gate electrode insulated from the third active layer, a third source electrode electrically connected to the third active layer, and a third drain electrode; and wherein the first through third source electrodes commonly constitute a common source electrode. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first through third active layers are connected together. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first through third gate electrodes are connected together. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 forming a gate insulating layer between the first through third active layers and the first through third gate electrodes;   forming an insulating interlayer on the first through third gate electrodes; and   forming a common contact hole in the gate insulating layer and in the insulating interlayer to electrically connect the common source electrode to the first through third active layers.   
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , the organic light-emitting display device being composed of just one common contact hole to serve the first through third sub-pixels. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the organic light emitting display device comprises:
 the first through third sub-pixels each comprising at least one capacitor, at least one thin-film transistor (TFT), and an organic light-emitting device (OLED);   first through third switching devices including one of the commonly formed source electrode and the commonly formed drain electrode, the first through third switching devices being electrically connected to the first through third sub-pixels, respectively to apply the initializing voltage to the first through third sub-pixels when the first through third switching devices are turned on;   the planarization layer arranged on the first through third switching devices;   the via-hole arranged through the planarization layer to expose the one of the commonly formed source electrode and the commonly formed drain electrode; and   the initializing electrode electrically connected to the one of the commonly formed source electrode and the commonly formed drain electrode through the via-hole, the initializing electrode to transmit the initializing voltage to the one of the commonly formed source electrode and the commonly formed drain electrode.   
     
     
       21. An organic light-emitting display device, comprising:
 a plurality of sub-pixels;   a plurality of switching devices comprising a plurality of switching thin-film transistors (TFTs), each of the plurality of switching TFTs being electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of sub-pixels to apply an initializing voltage to the corresponding one of the plurality of sub-pixels in response to the each of the plurality of switching TFTs being turned on, each of the plurality of switching TFTs comprising an active layer and a gate electrode insulated from the active layer, the gate electrodes of the plurality of switching TFTs being connected together, the active layers of the plurality of switching TFTs being connected together, the plurality of switching devices comprising an electrode electrically connected to the active layers and commonly constituting a common source electrode or a common drain electrode for the plurality of switching TFTs;   a planarization layer on the plurality of switching TFTs and comprising a via-hole, the via hole being located between a neighboring two sub-pixels of the plurality of sub-pixels; and   an initializing voltage line on the planarization layer, the initializing voltage line being electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of switching TFTs through the via-hole.   
     
     
       22. The organic light-emitting display device of claim 21, further comprising:
 a gate line extending in a first direction.   
     
     
       23. The organic light-emitting display device of claim 22, wherein the initializing voltage line extends along the first direction. 
     
     
       24. The organic light-emitting display device of claim 21, wherein:
 each of the plurality of sub-pixels comprises a capacitor and an organic light-emitting device (OLED); and   the OLED comprises a pixel electrode, an organic material layer, and a counter electrode.   
     
     
       25. The organic light-emitting display device of claim 24, wherein the initializing voltage line is comprised of a same material as the pixel electrode. 
     
     
       26. The organic light-emitting display device of claim 21, wherein the common source electrode or the common drain electrode is located between neighboring sub-pixels. 
     
     
       27. The organic light-emitting display device of claim 21, wherein the active layers for the plurality of switching TFTs are connected together. 
     
     
       28. The organic light-emitting display device of claim 21, wherein the gate electrodes for the plurality of switching TFTs are formed as a single body. 
     
     
       29. The organic light-emitting display device of claim 21, further comprising:
 a gate insulating layer arranged between the active layers and the gate electrodes for the plurality of switching TFTs;   an insulating interlayer on the gate insulating layer; and   a common contact hole in the gate insulating layer and the insulating interlayer.   
     
     
       30. The organic light-emitting display device of claim 29, wherein the common contact hole is located near the via-hole. 
     
     
       31. An organic light-emitting display device, comprising:
 a gate line extending in a first direction;   a plurality of sub-pixels, each of the plurality of sub-pixels comprising a capacitor and an organic light-emitting device (OLED), the OLED comprising a pixel electrode;   a plurality of switching devices comprising a plurality of switching thin-film transistors (TFTs), each of the plurality of switching TFTs being electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of sub-pixels to apply an initializing voltage to the corresponding one of plurality of sub-pixels in response to the each of the plurality of switching TFTs being turned on, each of the plurality of switching TFTs comprising a gate electrode, the gate electrodes of the plurality of TFTs being connected together by the gate line;   a planarization layer on the plurality of switching TFTs and comprising a via-hole, the via hole being located between a neighboring two sub-pixels of the plurality of sub-pixels; and   an initializing voltage line extending in the first direction and being disposed on the planarization layer, the initializing voltage line being electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of switching TFTs through the via-hole,   wherein the pixel electrode of one of the OLEDs overlaps the capacitor of the one of the OLEDs.   
     
     
       32. An organic light-emitting display device, comprising:
 a gate line extending in a first direction;   a plurality of sub-pixels, each of the plurality of sub-pixels comprising a capacitor and an organic light-emitting device (OLED);   a plurality of switching thin-film transistors (TFTs) comprising one of a source electrode and a drain electrode, each of the plurality of switching TFTs being electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of sub-pixels, each of the plurality of switching TFTs comprising a gate electrode, the gate electrodes of the plurality of switching TFTs being connected together by the gate line;   an initializing voltage line extending in the first direction and being electrically connected to the one of the source electrode and the drain electrode, the initializing voltage line being configured to transmit the initializing voltage to the one of the source electrode and the drain electrode; and   an insulating layer between the gate electrodes and the initializing voltage line.   
     
     
       33. The organic light-emitting display device of claim 32, wherein each of the OLEDs comprises:
 a pixel electrode;   a counter electrode; and   an organic layer arranged between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode.   
     
     
       34. The organic light-emitting display device of claim 33, wherein the initializing voltage line comprises a same material as the pixel electrode. 
     
     
       35. The organic light-emitting display device of claim 33, wherein the pixel electrode of one of the OLEDs overlaps the capacitor. 
     
     
       36. The organic light-emitting display device of claim 32, further comprising:
 a single via hole serving the plurality of sub-pixels.   
     
     
       37. The organic light-emitting display device of claim 36, wherein the single via hole is located adjacent a neighboring two sub-pixels. 
     
     
       38. The organic light-emitting display device of claim 32, wherein:
 each of the plurality of switching TFTs comprises an active layer, the gate electrode insulated from the active layer, and an electrode electrically connected to the active layer; and   the electrode corresponds to a source electrode or a drain electrode.   
     
     
       39. The organic light-emitting display device of claim 32, wherein:
 the capacitor comprises a lower electrode and an upper electrode; and   the lower electrode is formed from a same layer as the gate electrode.   
     
     
       40. An organic light-emitting display device, comprising:
 a plurality of sub-pixels, each of the plurality of sub-pixels comprising a capacitor and an organic light-emitting device (OLED);   a plurality of switching thin-film transistors (TFTs) comprising one of a source electrode and a drain electrode, each of the plurality of switching TFTs being electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of sub-pixels, each of the plurality of switching TFTs comprising a gate electrode, the gate electrodes of the plurality of switching TFTs being connected together;   an initializing voltage line electrically connected to the one of the source electrode and the drain electrode, the initializing voltage line being configured to transmit the initializing voltage to the one of the source electrode and the drain electrode;   an insulating layer between the gate electrodes and the initializing voltage line; and   a single via hole serving the plurality of sub-pixels, the single via hole being defined in the insulating layer.   
     
     
       41. An organic light-emitting display device, comprising:
 a plurality of sub-pixels, each of the plurality of sub-pixels comprising a capacitor and an organic light-emitting device (OLED);   a plurality of switching thin-film transistors (TFTs) comprising one of a source electrode and a drain electrode, each of the plurality of switching TFTs being electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of sub-pixels, each of the plurality of switching TFTs comprising a gate electrode, the gate electrodes of the plurality of switching TFTs being connected together;   an initializing voltage line electrically connected to the one of the source electrode and the drain electrode, the initializing voltage line being configured to transmit the initializing voltage to the one of the source electrode and the drain electrode; and   an insulating layer between the gate electrodes and the initializing voltage line,   wherein:
 each of the plurality of switching TFTs comprises an active layer, the gate electrode insulated from the active layer, and an electrode electrically connected to the active layer; 
 the electrode corresponds to a source electrode or a drain electrode; and 
 the electrodes for each of the plurality of switching TFTs commonly constitute a common source electrode or a common drain electrode. 
   
     
     
       42. An organic light-emitting display device, comprising:
 a plurality of sub-pixels, each of the plurality of sub-pixels comprising a capacitor and an organic light-emitting device (OLED);   a plurality of switching thin-film transistors (TFTs) comprising one of a source electrode and a drain electrode, each of the plurality of switching TFTs being electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of sub-pixels, each of the plurality of switching TFTs comprising a gate electrode, the gate electrodes of the plurality of switching TFTs being connected together;   an initializing voltage line electrically connected to the one of the source electrode and the drain electrode, the initializing voltage line being configured to transmit the initializing voltage to the one of the source electrode and the drain electrode; and   an insulating layer between the gate electrodes and the initializing voltage line,   wherein:
 each of the plurality of switching TFTs comprises an active layer, the gate electrode insulated from the active layer, and an electrode electrically connected to the active layer; 
 the electrode corresponds to a source electrode or a drain electrode; and 
 the active layers for the plurality of switching TFTs are connected together.