This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201610571225.1, filed Jul. 19, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in the entirety.
The present invention relates to display technology, more particularly, to a display substrate, a display panel, and a display apparatus.
Display apparatuses such as liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatuses and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display apparatuses have been widely used. Typically, a liquid crystal display apparatus includes a counter substrate and an array substrate facing each other. Thin film transistors, gate lines, data lines, pixel electrodes, common electrodes, and common electrode lines are disposed on the array substrate and the counter substrate. Between the two substrates, a liquid crystal material is injected to form a liquid crystal layer. Typically, an organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a counter substrate and an array substrate facing each other. The array substrate in the organic light-emitting display apparatus includes an anode, a light emitting layer and a cathode. In the liquid crystal display apparatuses and the organic light-emitting diode display apparatuses, the array substrate and the counter substrate are typically sealed together using a frame sealant such as an optical clear resin.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a display panel comprising a first substrate; and a second substrate facing the first substrate; wherein the first substrate comprises a first base substrate; and a first micro-structure layer on the first base substrate, the first micro-structure layer having a first corrugated surface on a side distal to the first base substrate, the first micro-structure layer in a peripheral area of the first substrate and enclosing a display area of the first substrate.
Optionally, the display panel further comprises a sealant layer on a side of the first micro-structure layer distal to the first base substrate for sealing the first substrate and the second substrate together to form a cell.
Optionally, the display panel further comprises a desiccant material layer on a side of the first micro-structure layer distal to the first base substrate; wherein the desiccant material layer is in the peripheral area of the first substrate and in an area enclosed by the sealant layer.
Optionally, the display panel is an organic light emitting diode display panel; and the first substrate further comprises an organic light emitting layer on the first base substrate; and an encapsulating layer on a side of the organic light emitting layer distal to the first base substrate.
Optionally, the first substrate further comprises a quantum dots layer on a side of the encapsulating layer distal to the organic light emitting layer.
Optionally, the second substrate comprises a second base substrate; and a second micro-structure layer on the second base substrate, the second micro-structure layer having a second corrugated surface on a side distal to the second base substrate, the second micro-structure layer in a peripheral area of the second substrate and enclosing a display area of the second substrate.
Optionally, the display panel further comprises a sealant layer between the first micro-structure layer and the second micro-structure layer for sealing the first substrate and the second substrate together to form a cell.
Optionally, the first micro-structure layer comprises an array of a plurality of micro-structures.
Optionally, distances between the plurality of micro-structures are substantially the same.
Optionally, distances between the plurality of micro-structures are in a range of approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 1 mm.
Optionally, the distances between the plurality of micro-structures are approximately 0.5 mm.
Optionally, each of the plurality of micro-structures has a curved cross-section.
Optionally, each of the plurality of micro-structures has a cross-section of a substantially semi-circular shape.
Optionally, the plurality of micro-structures have a substantially the same radius.
Optionally, the plurality of micro-structures are a plurality of convex portions.
Optionally, the plurality of micro-structures are a plurality of concaved portions.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a display apparatus comprising a display panel described herein.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a display substrate, comprising a base substrate; and a micro-structure layer on the base substrate in a peripheral area of the display substrate, the micro-structure layer having a corrugated surface on a side distal to the base substrate, the micro-structure layer enclosing a display area of the display substrate.
Optionally, the micro-structure layer comprises a plurality of convex portions.
Optionally, the micro-structure layer comprises a plurality of concaved portions.
The following drawings are merely examples for illustrative purposes according to various disclosed embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The disclosure will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of some embodiments are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed.
In conventional display panels such as organic light emitting diode display panels, when oxygen or moist enters the inside of the display panels, the electrical properties of the various components inside the display panel are affected, leading to shortened lifetime and decreased brightness. Conventional display panel sealing methods include coating methods and film encapsulating methods. In a coating method, one or more organic or inorganic material layers are deposited on display components inside the display panels (e.g., organic light emitting diodes) to insulate them from external oxygen and moist. In a film encapsulating method, one or more oxygen-resistant and moist-resistant films are encapsulated over the display components. In these conventional methods, oxygen and moist are mainly insulated from the top side of the display components. Oxygen and moist can still permeate into the display components from the lateral sides of the display components, resulting deteriorated properties.
Accordingly, the present disclosure provides, inter alia, a display substrate, a display panel, and a display apparatus that substantially obviate one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a display panel. In some embodiments, the display panel includes a first substrate; and a second substrate facing the first substrate. Optionally, the first substrate includes a first base substrate; and a first micro-structure layer having a first corrugated surface on a side distal to the first base substrate, the first micro-structure layer in a peripheral area of the first substrate and enclosing a display area of the first substrate.
As used herein the term “peripheral area” refers to an area of a display panel or a display substrate (e.g., an array substrate or a counter substrate) in the display panel where various circuits and wires are provided to transmit signals to the display panel or display substrate. To increase the transparency of the display apparatus, non-transparent or opaque components of the display apparatus (e.g., battery, printed circuit board, metal frame), can be disposed in the peripheral area rather than in the display areas. As used herein, the term “display area” refers to an area of a display panel or a display substrate (e.g., an array substrate or a counter substrate) in a display panel where image is actually displayed.
As used herein, the term “corrugated surface” refers to a non-level surface having a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of concaved portions relative to the plurality of protrusions. A corrugated surface may include a wide variety of periodic or non-periodic structuration, deformation, induced roughness, undulation, texturing or the combination thereof. Optionally, the plurality of corrugated protrusions are spaced apart by the plurality of concaved portions. Optionally, the corrugated surface in the context of the present disclosure has a typical distance between two adjacent apexes of the corrugated protrusions in the range of approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 1 mm. Optionally, the corrugated surface in the context of the present disclosure has a typical distance between two adjacent nadirs of the corrugated concaved portions in the range of approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 1 mm. Optionally, the corrugated surface in the context of the present disclosure has a typical height difference between an apex of a corrugated protrusion and a nadir of an adjacent corrugated concaved portion in the range of approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 1 mm.
In the display panel depicted in
In some embodiments, the display panel includes a first micro-structure layer in the first substrate and a second micro-structure layer in the second substrate.
Referring to
In the present display panel, the sealant layer 103 and the first micro-structure layer 102 (or the second micro-structure layer 102′) cooperatively seal the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 201 together. For example, at the interface between the sealant layer 103 and the first micro-structure layer 102, a sealant material of the sealant layer 103 is in contact with (e.g., bonded with) the first micro-structure layer 102. The interface is substantially impermeable to external oxygen or moist. As compared to the conventional display panels in which the interface between the sealant layer and the substrate is a substantially flat interface, the interface in the present display panel has a corrugated interface, which makes it significantly more difficult for external oxygen and moist to permeate through into the inside of the display panel. As a result, the present display panel is highly oxygen-resistant and moist-resistant.
In the display panel having a first micro-structure layer 102 in the first substrate 101 and a second micro-structure layer 102′ in the second substrate 102, the sealant layer 103 forms a first interface with the first micro-structure layer 102 and a second interface with the second micro-structure layer 102′. The sealant material of the sealant layer 103 is in contact with (e.g., bonded with) the first micro-structure layer 102 at the first interface and with the second micro-structure layer 102′ at the second interface. Because both the first interface and the second interface are corrugated interfaces that are difficult for external oxygen and moist to permeate through, the display panel is sealed tight on both sides of the sealant layer 103. The oxygen-resistant and moist-resistant properties of the display panel can be further enhanced.
Referring to
In some embodiments, the display panel is an organic light emitting diode display panel, and the first substrate 101 is an array substrate of the organic light emitting diode display panel. Referring to
In some embodiments, the first micro-structure layer 102 and the second micro-structure layer 102′ are layers having a plurality of micro-structures. The plurality of micro-structures in a micro-structure layer may be arranged in an orderly fashion on the substrate. Optionally, the plurality of micro-structures in a micro-structure layer may be arranged in an irregular fashion on the substrate. Optionally, the plurality of micro-structures in a micro-structure layer may be randomly arranged on the substrate. Optionally, the micro-structure layer (e.g., the first micro-structure layer 102 and the second micro-structure layer 102′) includes an array of a plurality of micro-structures.
Optionally, the first micro-structure layer in the first substrate includes a plurality of convex portions 301. Optionally, the first micro-structure layer in the first substrate includes a plurality of concaved portions 401. Optionally, the second micro-structure layer in the second substrate includes a plurality of convex portions 301. Optionally, the second micro-structure layer in the second substrate includes a plurality of concaved portions 401.
Optionally, the first micro-structure layer in the first substrate includes a plurality of convex portions 301, and the second micro-structure layer in the second substrate includes a plurality of convex portions 301. Optionally, the first micro-structure layer in the first substrate includes a plurality of concaved portions 401, and the second micro-structure layer in the second substrate includes a plurality of concaved portions 401. Optionally, the first micro-structure layer in the first substrate includes a plurality of convex portions 301, and the second micro-structure layer in the second substrate includes a plurality of concaved portions 401. Optionally, the first micro-structure layer in the first substrate includes a plurality of concaved portions 401, and the second micro-structure layer in the display substrate includes a plurality of convex portions 301.
In some embodiments, the plurality of micro-structures in a micro-structure layer may be arranged in an orderly fashion on the substrate. Optionally, distances between the plurality of micro-structures are substantially the same. Optionally, distances between the plurality of micro-structures are in a range of approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 1 mm, e.g., approximately 0.5 mm.
In some embodiments, each of the plurality of micro-structures has a curved cross-section (as shown in
In the present display panel, at least one micro-structure layer is formed on at least one of the substrates. The sealant layer and the micro-structure layer cooperatively seal the substrates together. For example, at the interface between the sealant layer and the micro-structure layer, a sealant material of the sealant layer is in contact with (e.g., bonded with) the micro-structure layer. The interface is substantially impermeable to external oxygen or moist. As compared to the conventional display panels in which the interface between the sealant layer and the substrate is a substantially flat interface, the interface in the present display panel has a corrugated interface, which makes it significantly more difficult for external oxygen and moist to permeate through into the inside of the display panel. As a result, the present display panel is highly oxygen-resistant and moist-resistant. In the display panel having a first micro-structure layer in the first substrate and a second micro-structure layer in the second substrate, the sealant layer forms a first interface with the first micro-structure layer and a second interface with the second micro-structure layer. The sealant material of the sealant layer is in contact with (e.g., bonded with) the first micro-structure layer at the first interface and with the second micro-structure layer at the second interface. Because both the first interface and the second interface are corrugated interfaces that are difficult for external oxygen and moist to permeate through, the display panel is sealed tight on both sides of the sealant layer. The oxygen-resistant and moist-resistant properties of the display panel can be further enhanced. By including a desiccant material layer inside the space sealed by the sealant layer and the micro-structure layer, the moist trapped inside the space can be further reduced or eliminated, leading to the longer life time of the display panel. By having a quantum dots layer in the display panel, the light emission intensity of the present display panel can be further enhanced. The pattern and dimensions of the micro-structures may be designed based on a desired frame width of the display panel. For example, in a display panel having a small frame width, the micro-structures may be designed to have a relatively smaller size, e.g., each of the plurality of micro-structures having a relatively small radius.
Optionally, the display panel is an organic light emitting diode display panel. Optionally, the display panel is a liquid crystal display panel.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a display panel.
Various appropriate materials and various appropriate fabricating methods may be used to make the micro-structure layer. For example, a micro-structure layer having a plurality of micro-structures may be fabricated by a lithography method. Optionally, the plurality of micro-structures may be formed in a molding process using a molding plate. Optionally, the micro-structure layer may be formed by a deposition method, e.g., using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process. Examples of appropriate materials for making the micro-structure layer include, but are not limited to, inorganic insulating materials and organic insulating materials. Examples of appropriate inorganic insulating materials include, but are not limited to, silicon oxide, silicon nitride (e.g., Si3N4), silicon oxynitride (SiOxNy). Examples of appropriate organic insulating materials include, but are not limited to, resins, polyimide, etc.
In some embodiments, the step of forming the first substrate includes forming a first micro-structure layer on a first base substrate, and the step of forming the second substrate includes forming a second micro-structure layer on a second base substrate. The first micro-structure layer is formed to have a first corrugated surface on a side distal to the first base substrate, and the second micro-structure layer is formed to have a second corrugated surface on a side distal to the second base substrate. The first micro-structure layer is formed in a peripheral area of the first substrate and enclosing a display region of the first substrate. The second micro-structure layer is formed in a peripheral area of the second substrate and enclosing a display region of the second substrate.
In some embodiments, the method further includes forming a sealant layer on a side of the first micro-structure layer distal to the first base substrate for sealing the first substrate and the second substrate together to form a cell. In some embodiments, when a first micro-structure layer is formed in the first substrate and a second micro-structure layer is formed in the second substrate, the sealant layer is formed between the first substrate and the second substrate, e.g., between the first micro-structure layer and the second micro-structure layer. Various appropriate materials and various appropriate fabricating methods may be used to make the sealant layer. Examples of sealants include a UV curable sealant (e.g., an epoxy resin), a low-temperature heat curable sealant, and a laser curable sealant.
In some embodiments, the method further includes forming a desiccant material layer in the peripheral area of the first substrate and in an area enclosed by the sealant layer. For example, the desiccant material layer is formed on a side of the sealant layer proximal to the display area. Optionally, the desiccant material layer is formed on a side of the first micro-structure layer distal to the first base substrate. Optionally, when a first micro-structure layer is formed in the first substrate and a second micro-structure layer is formed in the second substrate, the desiccant material layer is formed between the first substrate and the second substrate, e.g., between the first micro-structure layer and the second micro-structure layer.
In some embodiments, the display panel is an organic light emitting diode display panel, and the first substrate is an array substrate of the organic light emitting diode display panel. Optionally, the step of forming the first substrate includes forming an organic light emitting layer on a base substrate, and forming an encapsulating layer on a side of the organic light emitting layer distal to the first base substrate. Optionally, the step of forming the first substrate further includes forming a quantum dots layer on a side of the encapsulating layer distal to the organic light emitting layer.
Various appropriate quantum dots materials and various appropriate fabricating methods may be used to make the quantum dots layer. For example, quantum dots materials may be incorporated into a polymer matrix, and the mixture of the quantum dots materials and the polymer matrix is deposited on the substrate, e.g., on a side of the encapsulating layer distal to the organic light emitting layer. Examples of appropriate quantum dots materials include, but are not limited to, selanylidenecadmium (CdSe) quantum dots.
In some embodiments, the step of forming the first micro-structure layer (or the second micro-structure layer) includes forming an array of a plurality of micro-structures. Optionally, the plurality of micro-structures are a plurality of convex portions. Optionally, the plurality of micro-structures are a plurality of concaved portions.
Optionally, the first micro-structure layer (or the second micro-structure layer) is formed so that distances between the plurality of micro-structures are substantially the same. Optionally, distances between the plurality of micro-structures are in a range of approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 1 mm, e.g., approximately 0.5 mm.
Optionally, each of the plurality of micro-structures is formed to have a curved cross-section. Optionally, each of the plurality of micro-structures is formed to have a cross-section of a substantially semi-circular shape. Optionally, each of the plurality of micro-structures is formed to have a cross-section having a shape of a portion of a circle. Optionally, the plurality of micro-structures are formed to have a substantially the same radius. The pattern and dimensions of the micro-structures may be formed based on the frame width of the display panel. For example, in a display panel having a small frame width, the micro-structures may be formed to have a relatively smaller size, e.g., each of the plurality of micro-structures formed to have a relatively small radius.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a display apparatus having a display panel described herein or fabricated by a method described herein. Examples of appropriate display apparatuses include, but are not limited to, an electronic paper, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a television, a monitor, a notebook computer, a digital album, a GPS, etc. Optionally, the display apparatus is an organic light emitting diode display apparatus. Optionally, the display apparatus is a liquid crystal display apparatus.
In the present display apparatus, at least one micro-structure layer is formed on at least one of the substrates. The sealant layer and the micro-structure layer cooperatively seal the two substrates of the display apparatus together. For example, at the interface between the sealant layer and the micro-structure layer, a sealant material of the sealant layer is in contact with (e.g., bonded with) the micro-structure layer. The interface is substantially impermeable to external oxygen or moist. As compared to the conventional display apparatuses in which the interface between the sealant layer and the substrate is a substantially flat interface, the interface in the present display panel has a corrugated interface, which makes it significantly more difficult for external oxygen and moist to permeate through into the inside of the display apparatus. As a result, the present display apparatus is highly oxygen-resistant and moist-resistant. In the display apparatus having a first micro-structure layer in the first substrate and a second micro-structure layer in the second substrate, the sealant layer forms a first interface with the first micro-structure layer and a second interface with the second micro-structure layer. The sealant material of the sealant layer is in contact with (e.g., bonded with) the first micro-structure layer at the first interface and with the second micro-structure layer at the second interface. Because both the first interface and the second interface are corrugated interfaces that are extremely difficult for external oxygen and moist to permeate through, the display apparatus is sealed tight on both sides of the sealant layer. The oxygen-resistant and moist-resistant properties of the display apparatus can be further enhanced. By including a desiccant material layer inside the space sealed by the sealant layer and the micro-structure layer, the moist trapped inside the space can be further reduced or eliminated, leading to the longer life time of the display apparatus. By having a quantum dots layer in the display apparatus, the light emission intensity of the present display apparatus can be further enhanced. The pattern and dimensions of the micro-structures may be designed based on a desired frame width of the display apparatus. For example, in a display apparatus having a small frame width, the micro-structures may be designed to have a relatively smaller size, e.g., each of the plurality of micro-structures having a relatively small radius.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a display substrate. In some embodiments, the display substrate includes a base substrate and a micro-structure layer on the base substrate in a peripheral area of the display substrate, the micro-structure layer having a corrugated surface on a side distal to the base substrate, and the micro-structure layer enclosing a display region of the display substrate. Optionally, the micro-structure layer includes a plurality of convex portions. Optionally, the micro-structure layer includes a plurality of concaved portions. Optionally, the display substrate is an array substrate. Optionally, the display substrate is a counter substrate.
In some embodiments, the display substrate is an array substrate in an organic light emitting diode display panel. Optionally, the display substrate further includes a base substrate; an organic light emitting layer on the base substrate; an encapsulating layer on a side of the light emitting layer distal to the base substrate; and a quantum dots layer on a side of the encapsulating layer distal to the light emitting layer.
In some embodiments, the micro-structure layer includes a plurality of micro-structures. The plurality of micro-structures in a micro-structure layer may be arranged in an orderly fashion on the display substrate. Optionally, the plurality of micro-structures in a micro-structure layer may be arranged in an irregular fashion on the display substrate. Optionally, the plurality of micro-structures in a micro-structure layer may be randomly arranged on the display substrate. Optionally, the micro-structure layer includes an array of a plurality of micro-structures. Optionally, distances between the plurality of micro-structures are substantially the same. Optionally, distances between the plurality of micro-structures are in a range of approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 1 mm, e.g., approximately 0.5 mm. Optionally, each of the plurality of micro-structures has a curved cross-section. Optionally, each of the plurality of micro-structures has a cross-section of a substantially semi-circular shape. Optionally, each of the plurality of micro-structures has a cross-section having a shape of a portion of a circle. Optionally, the plurality of micro-structures have a substantially the same radius.
The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form or to exemplary embodiments disclosed. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. The embodiments are chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its best mode practical application, thereby to enable persons skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use or implementation contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Therefore, the term “the invention”, “the present invention” or the like does not necessarily limit the claim scope to a specific embodiment, and the reference to exemplary embodiments of the invention does not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The invention is limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Moreover, these claims may refer to use “first”, “second”, etc. following with noun or element. Such terms should be understood as a nomenclature and should not be construed as giving the limitation on the number of the elements modified by such nomenclature unless specific number has been given. Any advantages and benefits described may not apply to all embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated that variations may be made in the embodiments described by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Moreover, no element and component in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element or component is explicitly recited in the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201610571225.1 | Jul 2016 | CN | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/CN2017/078908 | 3/31/2017 | WO | 00 |