US 11626066

US Patent 11626066 (B2)

Title: Pixel arrangement structure for organic light emitting diode display
Assignee: Samsung Display Co Ltd
Inventor: Sang-Shin Lee
Filing Date: June 24, 2022
Issue Date: April 11, 2023

Abstract: The patent describes a pixel arrangement structure for an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display. This structure includes a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel, all having polygonal shapes. The first pixel's center aligns with the center of a virtual square. A second pixel is separate from the first and has its center at a first vertex of this virtual square. A third pixel is separate from both the first and second pixels, with its center at a second vertex that neighbors the first vertex of the virtual square.

Independent Claims Overview:

• Independent Claim 1 (Apparatus Claim): This claim describes an OLED display comprising individually addressable pixels for displaying an image, which are the minimum addressable units. These pixels include red, blue, and green pixels, each with an organic emission layer for emitting their respective colors. A pixel defining layer outlines these pixel areas, and all pixels are spaced apart. A key feature is a "first green pixel" positioned at the center of a virtual square, where each vertex of this square corresponds to the center of a different green pixel, and each edge overlaps three consecutive green pixels. Within the boundaries of this virtual square, there are at least two blue pixels and at least two red pixels. Each blue pixel is larger in area than each red pixel and also larger than the first green pixel. The first green pixel has a convex shape, with its long axis being longer than its short axis. Finally, the shortest distance between any two nearest green pixels is greater than the width of a "first red pixel" along a direction parallel to the short axis of the first green pixel.

• Independent Claim 15 (Method Claim): This claim details a method for manufacturing an OLED display. It involves depositing organic light-emitting material using a fine metal mask to form first, second, and third pixels that emit corresponding first, second, and third colors of light. These pixels are individually addressable and define the minimum addressable units of the OLED display, with a pixel defining layer setting their areas. All pixels are spaced apart. Similar to Claim 1, a "first one of the plurality of first pixels" has its center at the center of a virtual square, whose vertices coincide with centers of other first pixels, and edges overlap three consecutive first pixels. At least two second pixels and at least two third pixels are entirely within this virtual square. Each second pixel is larger than each third pixel and also larger than the first one of the first pixels. The first one of the first pixels has a convex shape, with its long axis longer than its short axis. A crucial manufacturing parameter is that the shortest distance between two nearest first pixels is greater than the width of one of the third pixels along a direction parallel to the short axis of the first one of the first pixels.

USPTO and CAFC Docket Search:

My search of Google Patents indicates that this patent is "Active" as of the current date. For specific information regarding USPTO PatentCenter and CAFC dockets, general search results point to their respective websites.

According to the Google Patents page for US11626066B2, there is litigation associated with this patent family. Specifically, it notes:

• PTAB case IPR2025-01545 filed (Settlement).
• US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court (case 2:25-cv-00426).
• First worldwide family litigation filed.

Therefore, there is active litigation for this patent family in 2025, and a US case filed in the Eastern District of Texas with case number 2:25-cv-00426 in 2025. It's noted that the PTAB case IPR2025-01545 shows a settlement. While this provides information for 2025, explicit CAFC 2026 dockets were not directly returned by the initial broad search. To confirm any ongoing CAFC 2026 dockets, a direct search of the CAFC's case records system would be needed, which is beyond the scope of this general web search. However, the existing litigation information from Google Patents provides valuable context.