Electroluminescent device having window

Abstract

In non-limiting example embodiments, an electroluminescent device may include a lower structure including an emission area, and an encapsulation structure located on the lower structure. The lower structure may include a window. The window may be a light transmitting region or a notch. The light transmitting region may be spaced apart from the emission area and completely or partially surrounded by the emission area in a plan view. The notch may be formed at one side of the lower structure and recessed inward in a plan view such that one side of the emission area substantially conforms to the notch.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electroluminescent device, comprising:
 a lower structure comprising an emission area and an outer non-emission area completely surrounding the emission area; and   an encapsulation structure located on the lower structure and having an inorganic lower surface; and   wherein the outer non-emission area has an outer inorganic surface portion completely surrounding the emission area and making a direct contact with the inorganic lower surface to form an inorganic-inorganic contact region; and   wherein the lower structure has a light transmitting region having at least a portion surrounded by the emission area.   
     
     
         2 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 1 , wherein the light transmitting region has a non-hole structure, is included in the outer non-emission area, is partially surrounded by the emission area, is located outer than the inorganic-inorganic contact region, and is partially surrounded by the inorganic-inorganic contact region; and
 wherein the outer non-emission area includes a first outer buffer area located between the emission area and the inorganic-inorganic contact region to completely surround the emission area and partially surround the light transmitting region.   
     
     
         3 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 2 , wherein the outer non-emission area includes a second outer buffer area located outer than the inorganic-inorganic contact region to be partially surrounded by the emission area and completely surround the light transmitting region. 
     
     
         4 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 3 , wherein the lower structure comprises a wire extending in a direction from the first outer buffer area toward the second outer buffer area to have a passing portion passing through the inorganic-inorganic contact region. 
     
     
         5 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 4 , wherein the passing portion has a side wall having protrusions and recesses. 
     
     
         6 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 4 , wherein a surface of the passing portion is included in the outer inorganic surface portion. 
     
     
         7 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 3 , wherein the outer non-emission area includes an inorganic surface island located inside the second outer buffer area and partially surrounded by the emission area. 
     
     
         8 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 1 , wherein the light transmitting region has a non-hole structure, is included in the outer non-emission area, is partially surrounded by the emission area, and is completely surrounded by the inorganic-inorganic contact region; and
 wherein the outer non-emission area comprises an outer buffer area located between the emission area and the inorganic-inorganic contact region to completely surround the emission area and partially surround the light transmitting region.   
     
     
         9 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 8 , wherein the outer non-emission area comprises an organic surface island located inside the inorganic-inorganic contact region and partially surrounded by the emission area. 
     
     
         10 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 1 , wherein the light transmitting region has a hole, is included in the outer non-emission area, is partially surrounded by the emission area, and is completely surrounded by the inorganic-inorganic contact region; and
 wherein the outer non-emission area comprises an outer buffer area located between the emission area and the inorganic-inorganic contact region to completely surround the emission area and partially surround the light transmitting region.   
     
     
         11 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 10 , wherein the outer non-emission area comprises an organic surface island located inside the inorganic-inorganic contact region and partially surrounded by the emission area. 
     
     
         12 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 10 , wherein the outer non-emission area comprises a portion of a wire; and
 wherein the portion is located within the inorganic-inorganic contact region in a plan view;   wherein the portion is partially surrounded by the emission area.   
     
     
         13 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 12 , wherein the portion has a side wall having protrusions and recesses. 
     
     
         14 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 12 , wherein the portion has a surface included in the outer inorganic surface portion. 
     
     
         15 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 1 , wherein the light transmitting region has a non-hole structure, is included in the outer non-emission area, is partially surrounded by the emission area, and is completely surrounded by the inorganic-inorganic contact region;
 wherein the outer non-emission area comprises an outer buffer area located between the emission area and the inorganic-inorganic contact area to completely surround the emission area and the light transmitting region; and   wherein the inorganic-inorganic contact region does not extend between the emission area and the light transmitting region.   
     
     
         16 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the lower structure comprises an inner non-emission area completely surrounded by the emission area;   wherein the light transmitting region has a non-hole structure, and is included in the inner non-emission area; wherein the inner non-emission area has an inner buffer area completely surrounded by the emission area; and   wherein the light transmitting region is completely surrounded by the inner buffer area.   
     
     
         17 . An electroluminescent device, comprising:
 a lower structure comprising an emission area and an outer non-emission area completely surrounding the emission area; and   an encapsulation structure located on the lower structure and having an inorganic lower surface; and   wherein the outer non-emission area has:
 an outer inorganic surface portion completely surrounding the emission area and making a direct contact with the inorganic lower surface to form an inorganic-inorganic contact region; 
 a first outer buffer area located between the emission area and the inorganic-inorganic contact region to completely surround the emission area; 
 a second outer buffer area located outer than the inorganic-inorganic contact region to be partially surrounded by the emission area; and 
 an inorganic surface island located inside the second outer buffer area and partially surrounded by the emission area. 
   
     
     
         18 . An electroluminescent device, comprising:
 a lower structure comprising an emission area and an outer non-emission area completely surrounding the emission area; and   an encapsulation structure located on the lower structure and having an inorganic lower surface; and   wherein the outer non-emission area has an outer inorganic surface portion completely surrounding the emission area and making a direct contact with the inorganic lower surface to form an inorganic-inorganic contact region; and   wherein an organic surface island is located inside the inorganic-inorganic contact region, and is partially surrounded by the emission area.   
     
     
         19 . An electroluminescent device, comprising:
 a lower structure including:
 a lower multilayer comprising a buffer layer including an inorganic material; 
 a lower electrode located on the lower multilayer; 
 a pixel defining layer located on the lower multilayer to cover a side portion of the lower electrode; 
 an intermediate multilayer located on the lower electrode and having at least one functional layer; and 
 an upper electrode located on the intermediate multilayer; and 
   wherein the lower structure has an emission area and a light transmitting region having a non-hole structure having at least a portion surrounded by the emission area;   wherein the functional layer and/or the upper electrode is a common pattern layer having a shape from which a portion corresponding the light transmitting region is removed; and   wherein the buffer layer has a shape from which a portion corresponding the light transmitting region is not removed.   
     
     
         20 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 19 , wherein the upper electrode has a shape from which a portion corresponding the light transmitting region is removed; and
 wherein the lower structure comprises an organic passivation layer which is located on the upper electrode to make a direct contact with the upper electrode, which has a conductive or semi-conductive property, and which is a common pattern layer having a shape from which a portion corresponding the light transmitting region is not removed.   
     
     
         21 . An electroluminescent device, comprising:
 a lower structure having an emission area including an electroluminescent unit comprising a lower electrode, an intermediate multilayer located on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode located on the intermediate multilayer, and a light transmitting region having a non-hole structure having at least a portion surrounded by the emission area; and   wherein the lower structure comprises an organic passivation layer which is located on the upper electrode to make a direct contact with the upper electrode, which has a conductive or semi-conductive property, and which is a common pattern layer having a shape from which a portion corresponding the light transmitting region is removed.   
     
     
         22 . An electroluminescent device, comprising:
 a lower structure comprising:
 an inorganic structure comprising a buffer layer including an inorganic material; 
 a planarization layer located on the inorganic structure; 
 a lower electrode located on the planarization layer; 
 a pixel defining layer located on the planarization layer to cover a side portion of the lower electrode; 
 an intermediate multilayer located on the lower electrode; and 
 an upper electrode located on the intermediate multilayer; and 
   wherein the lower structure has a light transmitting region having a non-hole structure having at least a portion surrounded by the emission area;   wherein the pixel defining layer has a shape from which a portion corresponding the light transmitting region is completely removed; and   wherein the buffer layer has a shape from which a portion corresponding the light transmitting region is not removed.   
     
     
         23 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 22 , wherein the planarization layer has a shape from which a portion corresponding the light transmitting region is removed. 
     
     
         24 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 23 , further comprising an encapsulation structure having an inorganic lower surface; and
 wherein the inorganic lower surface makes a direct contact with the inorganic structure in the light transmitting region.   
     
     
         25 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 24 , wherein the lower structure comprises an organic passivation layer which is located on the upper electrode to make a direct contact with the upper electrode, which has a conductive or semi-conductive property, and which is a common pattern layer having a shape from which a portion corresponding the light transmitting region is removed. 
     
     
         26 . An electroluminescent device, comprising:
 a lower structure comprising:
 a planarization layer; 
 a lower electrode located on the planarization layer; 
 a pixel defining layer located on the planarization layer to cover a side portion of the lower electrode; 
 an intermediate multilayer located on the lower electrode and including at least one functional layer; and 
 an upper electrode located on the intermediate multilayer; and 
   wherein the lower structure has an emission area and a light transmitting region having a non-hole structure having at least a portion surrounded by the emission area;   wherein the pixel defining layer has a shape from which a portion corresponding the light transmitting region is not removed such that the pixel defining layer overlaps a central portion of the light transmitting region; and   wherein the planarization layer has a shape from which a portion corresponding the light transmitting region is not removed.   
     
     
         27 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 26 , wherein the functional layer and/or the upper electrode is a common pattern layer having a shape from which a portion corresponding the light transmitting region is removed. 
     
     
         28 . An electroluminescent device, comprising:
 a lower structure having an inner non-emission area, an emission area completely surrounding the inner non-emission area, and an outer non-emission area completely surrounding the emission area; and   an encapsulation structure located on the lower structure and having a lower inorganic surface; and   wherein the inner non-emission area has a light transmitting region having a hole, an inner inorganic surface portion completely surrounding the light transmitting region, and an inner buffer area completely surrounding the inner inorganic surface portion;   wherein the outer non-emission area includes an outer buffer area completely surrounding the emission area and an outer inorganic surface portion completely surrounding the outer buffer area;   wherein the inner inorganic surface portion makes a direct contact with the lower inorganic surface to form an inner inorganic-inorganic contact region completely surrounding the light transmitting region;   wherein the outer inorganic surface portion makes a direct contact with the lower inorganic surface to form an outer inorganic-inorganic contact region completely surrounding the outer buffer area;   wherein the inner non-emission area includes a portion of a wire; and   wherein the portion of the wire has a surface included in the inner inorganic surface portion.   
     
     
         29 . An electroluminescent device, comprising:
 a lower structure having a light transmitting region and an emission area completely surrounding the light transmitting region; and   an encapsulation structure located on the lower structure; and   wherein the lower structure comprises a current wire overlapping the emission area and an inner bus wire electrically connected to the current wire and located between the light transmitting region and the emission area such that the inner bus wire completely surrounds the light transmitting region, and   wherein the inner bus wire includes first parts extending in a first direction and second parts extending in a second direction substantially different from the first direction.   
     
     
         30 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 29 , wherein the first parts and the second parts are alternately connected to each other. 
     
     
         31 . The electroluminescent device of  claim 29 , wherein the inner bus wire includes at least two of the first parts having substantially different lengths and/or at least two of the second parts having substantially different lengths.