Apparatus and method for patterning pixels of an electroluminescent display device

Abstract

In a method and apparatus for patterning forming pixels into minute patterns in an electroluminescent display device, a molding plate having convex and concave portions is attached to a roller and rotated. A polymer solution is applied to the molding plate via another roller. The polymer solution thus coated on the molding plate is printed on a substrate by rotation of the molding plate. Barrier ribs may be formed on the substrate to prevent spreading of the deposited polymer solution.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A patterning apparatus for an electroluminescent display, comprising: 
 a molding plate provided with a plurality of convex portions and concave portions;    a polymer supplying roller adjacent to the molding plate to apply an electroluminescent material to the molding plate via rotational movement; and    a molding roller attached to the molding plate to apply the electroluminescent material on the molding plate to an adjacent substrate via rotational movement.    
     
     
         2 . The patterning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the convex portions includes a land having a shape of stripe and extending linearly across a surface of the molding plate.  
     
     
         3 . The patterning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the convex portions includes a land having a small rectangular form.  
     
     
         4 . The patterning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the convex portions includes a land having a shape corresponding to a pixel pattern.  
     
     
         5 . The patterning apparatus according to  claim 2 ˜ 4 , wherein a surface of the land contains a plurality of minute indentations.  
     
     
         6 . The patterning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate includes a barrier rib for preventing electroluminescent material from spreading.  
     
     
         7 . The patterning apparatus according to  claim 6 , the barrier rib is positioned between the pixels adjacent to each other and formed in a shape of stripe.  
     
     
         8 . The patterning apparatus according to  claim 6 , the barrier rib is positioned between pixel and pixel, and formed in a shape of lattice.  
     
     
         9 . A method of patterning an electroluminescent display, comprising: 
 providing a molding plate with convex and concave portions on a molding roller; applying an electroluminescent material to the land of the convex portions of the molding plate; and    printing the electroluminescent material from the molding plate onto a substrate by rotating the molding roller so that a land on each convex portions contacts the substrate.    
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the applying and printing steps are repeated to form red, green and blue pixel patterns on the substrate.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 forming pixel electrodes between the barrier ribs; and    forming barrier ribs between said pixel electrodes for preventing a membrane spread of the electroluminescent material,    wherein the printing step deposits the electroluminescent material on the pixel electrodes.    
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the barrier ribs defines a boundary between pixels.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein an upper portion of the barrier rib overlaps an edge of a pixel electrode.  
     
     
         14 . The patterning method according to  claim 11 , wherein a height of the barrier rib is larger than a combined thickness of an adjacent electroluminescent material and pixel electrode.  
     
     
         15 . The patterning method according to  claim 11 , wherein a material of the barrier rib is selected from any one of SiN X  and SiO 2 .  
     
     
         16 . The patterning method according to  claim 11 , wherein a material of the barrier rib is selected from any one of a polyimide and an acryl-group organic compound.  
     
     
         17 . The patterning method according to  claim 9 , wherein the electroluminescent material includes a polymer solution.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the applying step includes: 
 coating a supply roller with the electroluminescent material; and    rotating both the supply roller and the molding roller so that the land on each convex portions contact the electroluminescent material on the supply roller.    
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the coating step includes: 
 causing the electroluminescent material to have a uniform thickness on the supply roller.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 11 , the barrier rib is positioned between the pixels adjacent to each other and formed in a shape of stripe.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 11 , the barrier rib is positioned between pixel and pixel, and formed in a shape of lattice.