Display panel, display apparatus and method of fabricating display panel

A display panel including a substrate, a thermal sensor, a plurality of sensing traces, a pixel layer, and a display medium layer is provided. The substrate has a display area. The thermal sensor is attached on the substrate. The sensing traces are disposed on the substrate and connected to the thermal sensor. The pixel layer disposed on the substrate includes a pixel structure and a plurality of signal lines. The pixel structure is disposed in the display area and connected to the signal lines. The signal lines of the pixel layer are independent from the sensing traces. The display medium layer is disposed on the substrate and the pixel layer is located between the display medium layer and the substrate. A display apparatus and a method of fabricating the display panel are also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 108111805, filed on Apr. 3, 2019. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a panel, an apparatus, and a method of fabricating the panel, and more particularly, to a display panel, a display apparatus, and a method of fabricating the display panel.

Description of Related Art

In recent years, electronic paper display panels have become a new choice in life to replace paper reading due to their advantages of being thin, durable, and energy-saving and environmentally-friendly. Electronic paper display panels may be found in electronic reading devices (e.g., e-books, electronic newspapers) or other electronic devices (e.g., electronic tags).

Temperature is one of the factors that affect the display effect and the performance of the electronic paper display apparatus. Most electronic paper display apparatuses have thermal sensors, and the thermal sensors are usually disposed on a flexible circuit board connected to the display panel. However, this configuration makes it uneasy for the thermal sensors to accurately sense the temperature on the panel, and the number and positions of the thermal sensors are limited by the mechanism design of the display apparatus. In view of this, how to accurately sense the temperature of the display panel has become one of the keys to improve display quality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a display panel having a thermal sensor with a greater margin for configuration.

The invention provides a display device having a thermal sensing function, and the thermal sensing accuracy thereof is high.

The display panel of the invention includes a substrate, a thermal sensor, a plurality of sensing traces, a pixel layer, and a display medium layer. The substrate has a display area. The thermal sensor is attached on the substrate. The sensing traces are disposed on the substrate and connected to the thermal sensor. The pixel layer disposed on the substrate includes a pixel structure and a plurality of signal lines. The pixel structure is disposed in the display area and connected to the signal lines. The signal lines of the pixel layer are independent from the sensing traces. The display medium layer is disposed on the substrate and the pixel layer is located between the display medium layer and the substrate.

The display apparatus of the invention includes a display panel and a flexible circuit board. The display panel includes a substrate, a thermal sensor, a plurality of sensing traces, a pixel layer, and a display medium layer. The substrate has a display area and a bonding area located in a periphery of the display area. The thermal sensor is attached on the substrate and located in the display area. The sensing traces are disposed on the substrate and connected to the thermal sensor. The pixel layer disposed on the substrate includes a pixel structure and a plurality of signal lines. The pixel structure is disposed in the display area and connected to the signal lines. The display medium layer is disposed on the substrate and the pixel layer is located between the display medium layer and the substrate. The flexible circuit board is bonded to the bonding area of the substrate.

In an embodiment of the invention, the thermal sensor of the display panel is located in the display area.

In an embodiment of the invention, the thermal sensor of the display panel is located between the substrate and the pixel layer.

In an embodiment of the invention, the plurality of sensing traces of the display panel are located between the pixel layer and the substrate.

In an embodiment of the invention, the display panel further includes an isolation layer. The isolation layer is disposed on the substrate and located between the plurality of sensing traces and the pixel layer.

In an embodiment of the invention, the plurality of sensing traces of the display panel are a same film layer as the plurality of signal lines of the pixel layer.

In an embodiment of the invention, the plurality of signal lines of the pixel layer of the display panel includes a scan line and a data line with an extending direction intersected an extending direction of the scan line. The plurality of sensing traces includes a ground line and a control line. A film layer of the ground line is the same as one of the scan line and the data line, and a film layer of the control line is the same as the other of the scan line and the data line.

In an embodiment of the invention, the substrate of the display panel is located between the thermal sensor and the pixel layer, and the substrate is located between the plurality of sensing traces and the pixel layer.

In an embodiment of the invention, the display panel further includes a protective layer. The protective layer is disposed on the substrate, and the thermal sensor and the plurality of sensing traces are interposed between the substrate and the protective layer.

In an embodiment of the invention, the substrate of the display panel has a groove, and the thermal sensor is buried in the groove.

In an embodiment of the invention, the display panel further includes a packaging layer. The packaging layer covers the display medium layer, and the display medium layer is interposed between the packaging layer and the substrate.

In an embodiment of the invention, the display apparatus further includes a driving circuit board. The flexible circuit board is connected between the driving circuit board and the display panel.

In an embodiment of the invention, the display apparatus further includes a thermal sensing control circuit. The thermal sensing control circuit is disposed on the driving circuit board, and the thermal sensing control circuit electrically communicates with the plurality of sensing traces via the flexible circuit board.

In an embodiment of the invention, a number of the thermal sensor of the display apparatus is a plurality, and the display apparatus further includes a multiplexer circuit. The multiplexer circuit is connected between the thermal sensing control circuit and the plurality of sensing traces.

In an embodiment of the invention, the multiplexer circuit of the display apparatus is disposed on the flexible circuit board.

In an embodiment of the invention, the multiplexer circuit of the display apparatus is integrated in the thermal sensing control circuit.

In an embodiment of the invention, a distance from the thermal sensor of the display apparatus to the bonding area is greater than a length of the flexible circuit board.

In an embodiment of the invention, the display medium layer of the display apparatus is an electronic paper display layer.

The method of fabricating the display panel of the invention includes the following steps. A substrate is provided. A thermal sensor is bonded to the substrate. A sensing trace and an isolation layer are fabricated on the substrate, wherein the sensing trace is located between the isolation layer and the substrate and connected to the thermal sensor. A pixel layer and a display medium layer are formed on the substrate, wherein the pixel layer is located between the display medium layer and the substrate, and the pixel layer includes a pixel structure and a plurality of signal lines.

In an embodiment of the invention, the method of fabrication further includes the following step. A groove is fabricated on the substrate, wherein the thermal sensor is disposed in the groove.

In an embodiment of the invention, the groove is formed on the substrate via an etching process.

In an embodiment of the invention, a method of bonding the thermal sensor to the substrate includes deposition sintering, soldering, or adhesion.

Based on the above, the display panel and the display apparatus of an embodiment of the invention have the thermal sensor attached on the substrate, and the sensing traces connected to the thermal sensors are electrically independent from the data lines and the scan lines electrically connected to the pixel structures. Therefore, the accuracy of thermal sensing may be effectively improved, thus improving display quality.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the figures, for clarity, the thicknesses of, for instance, layers, films, panels, and regions are enlarged. It should be understood that, when a layer, film, region, or an element of a substrate is “on” another element or “connected to” another element, the element may be directly on the other element or connected to the other element, or an intermediate element may also be present. On the other hand, when an element is “directly on another element” or “directly connected to” another element, an intermediate element is not present. As used in the present specification, “connected to” may refer to a physical and/or electrical connection. Furthermore, “electrically connected” may mean that other elements are present between two elements.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail, and examples of the exemplary embodiments are conveyed via the figures. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals are used in the figures and the descriptions to refer to the same or similar parts.

FIG.1is a top view of a display panel10of the first embodiment of the invention.FIG.2is an enlarged view of a partial area I of the display panel10ofFIG.1.FIG.3is a cross section of the display panel10ofFIG.2.FIG.3corresponds to section line A-A′ ofFIG.2. It should be noted that, for clarity of presentation,FIG.1omits the illustration of a pixel layer210ofFIG.2, andFIG.2omits the illustration of an isolation layer110, a gate insulating layer120, an insulating layer130, a planarization layer140, a display medium layer220, a second electrode152, and a packaging layer160ofFIG.3.

As may be seen fromFIG.1, the display panel10has a display area DA and a peripheral area PA surrounding the display area DA. The display panel10includes a substrate100, a plurality of thermal sensors200, and a plurality of sensing traces ST. In the present embodiment, the thermal sensors200may be optionally disposed in the display area DA, and the plurality of thermal sensors200may be arranged in an array on the substrate100, but the invention is not limited thereto. It should be noted that the number of the thermal sensors200of the present embodiment is for illustrative purposes only, and the invention is not limited in this regard. In some embodiments, the number and location of the thermal sensors200may be adjusted according to actual design requirements. For example, the thermal sensors200may be positioned where heat source is easily generated in the display panel10during operation, such as where the driving circuit boards, the control chips, or the bus bars are provided or where the circuit traces are densely arranged. In the present embodiment, the thermal sensors200may include, for example, a thermal sensitive resistance, that is, the thermal sensors200may be resistive thermal detectors (RTD).

The plurality of sensing traces ST are disposed on the substrate100and connected to the thermal sensors200. The plurality of sensing traces ST includes, for example, ground lines ST1and control lines ST2. The thermal sensors200are connected between the ground lines ST1and the control lines ST2. In some embodiments, a number of thermal sensors200may be optionally connected to the same ground line ST1, and respectively connected to corresponding control lines ST2, but the invention is not limited thereto. In addition, in the present embodiment, the ground lines ST1and the control lines ST2may optionally belong to the same conductive layer, and therefore, the extending direction of each ground line ST1is not intersected with the extending direction of each control line ST2, that is, the extending direction of each ground line ST1may substantially be parallel to the control lines ST2, but the invention is not limited thereto.

In the present embodiment, based on conductivity considerations, the material of the sensing traces ST is generally a metal material. However, the invention is not limited thereto. According to other embodiments, the sensing traces ST may also use other conductive materials such as a metal alloy, a metal nitride material, a metal oxide material (e.g., indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, or other transparent conductive materials), a metal oxynitride material, other suitable materials, or stacked layers of a metal material and other conductive materials.

Referring toFIG.2andFIG.3, the display panel10further includes the pixel layer210disposed on the substrate100. In the present embodiment, a plurality of thermal sensors200, a plurality of the ground lines ST1, and a plurality of the control lines ST2may optionally be disposed between the substrate100and the pixel layer210. In addition, as shown inFIG.3, the substrate100may optionally have a groove101, and one thermal sensor200may be buried in the groove101, but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the thermal sensor200may be embedded on the substrate100via a means of sintering or attached in the groove101of the substrate100via an adhesive material.

In the embodiment, the pixel layer210includes a plurality of pixel structures PX and a plurality of signal lines SL disposed in the display area DA. The plurality of pixel structures PX may be arranged in an array on the substrate100. The plurality of signal lines SL is electrically independent from the sensing traces ST. The plurality of signal lines SL includes, for example, a plurality of scan lines GL and a plurality of data lines DL, and the extending direction of each scan line GL is intersected with the extending direction of each data line DL. Each of the pixel structures PX may be connected to a corresponding scan line GL and a corresponding data line DL. In the present embodiment, the extending directions of the ground line ST1and the control line ST2may substantially be optionally parallel to the extending direction of the data lines DL, but the invention is not limited thereto.

In the present embodiment, based on conductivity considerations, the material of the signal lines SL is generally a metal material. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and according to other embodiments, the signal lines SL may also be made by using other conductive materials such as a metal alloy, a metal nitride material, a metal oxide material, a metal oxynitride material, other suitable materials, or stacked layers of a metal material and other conductive materials.

Referring toFIG.3, each of the pixel structures PX may include an active device T disposed on the substrate100. The active device T has a gate G, a source S, a drain D, and a semiconductor SC. The pixel layer210further includes a gate insulating layer120disposed between the gate G and the semiconductor SC. For example, in the present embodiment, the gate G of the active device T may be optionally disposed below the semiconductor SC to form a bottom-gate TFT, but the invention is not limited thereto. According to other embodiments, the gate G of the active device T may also be disposed above the semiconductor SC to form a top-gate TFT.

In the present embodiment, the material of the semiconductor SC is, for example, an amorphous silicon semiconductor, an organic semiconductor or a metal oxide semiconductor; that is, the active device T may be an amorphous silicon TFT (a-Si TFT), an organic TFT or a metal oxide TFT. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the material of the semiconductor SC includes, for example, a polycrystalline silicon semiconductor; that is to say, the active device T may also be a polycrystalline silicon TFT.

The source S and the drain D of the active device T respectively cover and are electrically connected to two different areas of the semiconductor SC. In the present embodiment, the gate G and the source S of the active device T may be connected to the scan lines GL and the data lines DL, respectively. For example, the gate G of the active device T and the scan lines GL may optionally belong to the same film layer, and the source S, the drain D, and the data lines DL of the active device T may optionally belong to the same film layer.

The pixel layer210may also optionally include the insulating layer130and the planarization layer140. The insulating layer130covers the data line DL, the source S and the drain D of the active device T, and a portion of the surface of the gate insulating layer120. The planarization layer140is disposed on the insulating layer130. The insulating layer130and the planarization layer140respectively have an opening130aand an opening140aoverlapped with the drain D of the active device T. For example, the sidewall of the insulating layer130defining the opening130amay be substantially aligned with the sidewall of the planarization layer140defining the opening140a, but the invention is not limited thereto. The pixel structure PX may further include a first electrode151disposed on the planarization layer140. The first electrode151covers a portion of the surface of the planarization layer140and may continuously extend above the planarization layer to the upper surface of the drain D to be electrically connected to the drain D140by conforming to the sidewall of the planarization layer140defining the opening140aand the sidewall of the insulating layer130defining the opening130a.

It should be noted that the gate G, the source S, the drain D, the gate insulating layer120, the insulating layer130, and the planarization layer140may respectively be implemented by any gate, any source, any drain, any gate insulating layer, any insulating layer, and any planarization layer for a display panel known to those skilled in the art, and the gate G, the source S, the drain D, the gate insulating layer120, the insulating layer130, and the planarization layer140may respectively be formed by any method known to those skilled in the art, and thus are not repeated herein.

As shown inFIG.3, the display panel10may also optionally include the isolation layer110disposed on the substrate100and located between the sensing traces ST and the pixel layer210. The isolation layer110covers the ground line ST1, the control line ST2, and the thermal sensors200, so that the thermal sensors200and the plurality of sensing traces ST are electrically independent from the pixel layer210. In the present embodiment, the material of the isolation layer110includes an inorganic material (for example: silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, other suitable materials, or stacked layers of at least two of the above materials), an organic material, or other suitable materials, or a combination of the above.

The display panel10further includes the display medium layer220and the second electrode152disposed on the substrate100. The display medium layer220is located between the pixel layer210and the second electrode152, and the second electrode152covers the display medium layer220. A portion of the display medium layer220is interposed between the first electrode151and the second electrode152. In the present embodiment, the display medium layer220may be an electronic paper display layer. For example, the electronic paper display layer may optionally include a plurality of microcapsules221and an electronic ink222filled in the microcapsules221.FIG.3shows that, the electronic ink222may optionally include a plurality of white particles223, a plurality of black particles224, and a transparent liquid225, and one of the white particles223and the black particles224may be positively charged and the other negatively charged. That is, the display medium layer220may be an electrophoretic electronic paper display layer. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and in some embodiments, the electronic ink222may also contain a plurality of charged particles of different colors. In some other embodiments, the display medium layer220may also be a liquid crystal display layer or an organic electroluminescent display layer.

In the present embodiment, the first electrode151and the second electrode152are, for example, light transmissive electrodes, and the material of the light transmissive electrodes includes a metal oxide such as indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, aluminum tin oxide, aluminum zinc oxide, or other suitable oxides, or stacked layers of at least two of the foregoing. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the first electrode151may be a reflective electrode, and the material of the reflective electrode includes a metal, an alloy, a metal nitride material, a metal oxide material, a metal oxynitride material, or other suitable materials, or stacked layers of a metal material and other conductive materials. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the first electrode151may be a light transmissive electrode and the display panel10may further include a reflective layer, wherein the reflective layer and the display dielectric layer220are located at two opposite sides of the first electrode151.

The display panel10may also optionally include the packaging layer160that covers the second electrode152. The display medium layer220is interposed between the packaging layer160and the pixel layer210. In the present embodiment, the material of the packaging layer160may include silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, aluminum oxynitride, silicon oxynitride, acrylic resin, hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or glass.

FIG.4AtoFIG.4Dare cross sections of a fabrication process of the display panel10ofFIG.3. In the present embodiment, the groove101(shown inFIG.4A) is formed on the substrate100first, and the thermal sensors200are placed in the groove101. In particular, the groove101may be fabricated by using an etching process, and the thermal sensors200may be fabricated first and then transferred into the groove101of the substrate100(as shown inFIG.4B). In particular, the thermal sensors200may be bonded to the substrate100via deposition sintering, soldering, or other suitable means. Alternatively, the thermal sensors200may be directly fabricated in the groove101by means of film forming process or the like. In some embodiments, the thermal sensors200may be attached on the substrate100via an adhesive layer.

After the thermal sensors200are bonded to the substrate100, the fabrication of the sensing traces ST (as shown inFIG.4C) and the fabrication of the isolation layer110(as shown inFIG.4D) are sequentially performed. In the present embodiment, the material of the ground line ST1and the control line ST2may be indium-tin oxide (ITO) and may be fabricated by a photolithography-etching process. Alternatively, the isolation layer110may be optionally formed by a method of physical deposition or chemical deposition.

It is worth mentioning that the isolation layer110here may have good insulating properties, so that the sensing traces ST and the subsequently formed pixel layer210are electrically isolated from each other. In addition, the isolation layer110has a smooth surface at the side away from the thermal sensors200, which helps to improve the production yield of a subsequent process. Further, after the isolation layer110is formed, the fabrication of the pixel layer210, the display medium layer220, the second electrode152, and the packaging layer160may be sequentially performed to form the display panel10as shown inFIG.3.

FIG.5is a top view of a display panel11of the second embodiment of the invention.FIG.6AtoFIG.6Dare cross sections of a fabrication process of the display panel11ofFIG.5.FIG.6Dcorresponds to section line B-B′ ofFIG.5. It should be noted that, for clarity of presentation,FIG.5omits the illustration of the isolation layer110, the gate insulating layer120, the insulating layer130, the planarization layer140, the display medium layer220, the second electrode152, and the packaging layer160ofFIG.6D.

Referring toFIG.5andFIG.6D, the difference between the display panel11of the present embodiment and the display panel10of the first embodiment is that the thermal sensors200of the display panel11are not embedded in a substrate100A, that is, the substrate100A is not provided with a groove for accommodating the thermal sensors200. Further, in the present embodiment, the extending direction of the sensing traces ST (i.e., the ground line ST1and the control line ST2) is substantially parallel to the extending direction of the scan lines GL. The fabrication flow of the display panel11is exemplarily described below.

In the present embodiment, the thermal sensors200of the display panel11may be transferred onto the substrate100A after being fabricated (as shown inFIG.6A), wherein the thermal sensors200may be bonded to the substrate100A via deposition sintering, soldering, or other suitable means. In some embodiments, the thermal sensors200may be attached on the substrate100A via an adhesive layer. After the thermal sensors200are bonded to the substrate100A, the fabrication of the sensing traces ST (as shown inFIG.6B) and the fabrication of the isolation layer110(as shown inFIG.6C) are sequentially performed. In the present embodiment, the material of the ground line ST1and the control line ST2may be indium-tin oxide (ITO) and may be fabricated by a photolithography process. Alternatively, the isolation layer110may be optionally formed by a method of physical deposition or chemical deposition.

It is worth mentioning that the isolation layer110here may have good insulating properties, so that the sensing traces ST and the subsequently formed pixel layer210are electrically isolated from each other. In addition, the isolation layer110has a smooth surface at the side away from the thermal sensors200, which helps to improve the production yield of a subsequent process. Referring toFIG.6D, after the isolation layer110is formed, the fabrication of the pixel layer210, the display medium layer220, the second electrode152, and the packaging layer160may be sequentially formed, wherein the composition, material type, and configuration relationship of the pixel layer210, the display medium layer220, the second electrode152, and the packaging layer160are all similar to those of the display panel10of the foregoing embodiments. Refer to the foregoing embodiments for related technical description, which is not repeated herein. At this point, the display panel11of the present embodiment is completed.

FIG.7is a cross section of a display panel12of the third embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG.7, the difference between the display panel12of the present embodiment and the display panel10ofFIG.3is that the plurality of sensing traces ST of the display panel12and the plurality of signal lines SL of the pixel layer210may belong to the same film layer, that is, the sensing traces ST may be optionally integrated to the pixel layer210. Therefore, the display panel12may not have the isolation layer110, and the process of fabricating the thermal sensors200in the groove101is the same as that of the embodiment ofFIG.3, which is not repeated herein.

In the present embodiment, the ground line ST1and the scan line GL may optionally belong to the same film layer. The control line ST2and the data line DL may optionally belong to the same film layer, and the control line ST2passes through the gate insulating layer120and is electrically connected to the corresponding thermal sensor200, but the invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the ground line ST1and the data line DL may also belong to the same film layer, and the control line ST2and the scan line GL may also belong to the same film layer. In this way, the process may be simplified, thus reducing the installation cost of the thermal sensing members.

FIG.8is a cross section of a display panel20of the fourth embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG.8, the difference between the display panel20of the present embodiment and the display panel10ofFIG.3is that the substrate100A of the display panel20is located between the thermal sensors200and the pixel layer210, and the substrate100A is located between the sensing traces ST and the pixel layer210. In addition, the display panel20may also optionally include a protective layer170disposed on the substrate100A. The protective layer170covers the thermal sensors200and the sensing traces ST. That is, the thermal sensors200and the sensing traces ST are located between the substrate100A and the protective layer170.

In the process of the present embodiment, the sensing traces ST may be first fabricated on the substrate100A, and then the thermal sensor200is disposed on the sensing traces ST, and finally the protective layer170is covered on the thermal sensor200and the sensing traces ST. In the present embodiment, the sensing traces ST may be optionally disposed between the thermal sensor200and the substrate100A, but the invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the thermal sensor200of the display panel20may be fabricated beforehand, and after the sensing trace ST, the pixel layer210, the display medium layer220, the second electrode152, and the packaging layer160are completed, the thermal sensor200is transferred to the substrate100A and attached on the sensing traces ST.

FIG.9is a cross section of a display panel21of the fifth embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG.9, the difference between the display panel21of the present embodiment and the display panel20ofFIG.8is that the substrate100of the display panel21may optionally have the groove101, the thermal sensor200may be buried in the groove101, and the thermal sensor200is located between the substrate100and the sensing traces ST. For example, the thermal sensor200may be embedded on the substrate100by means of sintering. The process of fabricating the thermal sensor200in the groove101is the same as that of the embodiment ofFIG.3, and is not repeated herein. After the thermal sensor200is fabricated, the sensing traces ST and the protective layer170are sequentially fabricated on the substrate100.

FIG.10is an enlarged view of a display panel30of the sixth embodiment of the invention.FIG.11is a schematic of a display apparatus50of an embodiment of the invention. It should be noted thatFIG.10corresponds to a partial area II of the display panel30ofFIG.11, and for clarity of presentation, the display panel30ofFIG.11omits the illustration of the pixel layer210ofFIG.10. As may be seen fromFIG.11, although six thermal sensors200of the display panel30are illustrated in the present embodiment, the invention is not limited thereto.

Referring toFIG.10, the difference between the display panel30of the present embodiment and the display panel10is that the extending direction of the control line ST2of the display panel30is intersected with the extending direction of the ground line ST1. In detail, the extending direction of the ground line ST1may be optionally parallel to the extending direction of the data lines DL, and the extending direction of the control line ST2may be optionally parallel to the extending direction of the scan lines GL. In addition, in the present embodiment, the ground line ST1and the control line ST2may optionally belong to different conductive layers, so that the ground line ST1is electrically independent from the control line ST2. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and in some embodiments, the ground line ST1and the control line ST2intersected with each other may also belong to the same conductive layer. For example, one of the ground line ST1and the control line ST2has a disconnection, and the two parts separated by the disconnection are electrically connected to each other via a bridge pattern, and the other of the ground line ST1and the control line ST2is disposed through the disconnection, that is, the ground line ST1and the control line ST2are electrically insulated from each other via a jumper method.

Referring toFIG.11, the display apparatus50includes the display panel30and a flexible circuit board300. The display panel30also has a bonding area BA located in the periphery of the display area DA, and the flexible circuit board300is bonded to the bonding area BA of the display panel30. In the present embodiment, a distance dl between a vertical projection of at least one of the plurality of thermal sensors200on the substrate100and a vertical projection of an area occupied by the bonding BA on the substrate100may be optionally greater than a length L of the flexible circuit board300. In addition, in the present embodiment, the thermal sensors200may also be disposed in the peripheral area PA outside the display area DA. In other words, the location of the thermal sensors200at the display panel30may be adjusted according to different panel designs. In this way, the margin for configuration of the thermal sensors may be increased, and the accuracy of thermal sensing may be improved.

In addition, the display apparatus50further includes a driving circuit board310and a thermal sensing control circuit311. The flexible circuit board300is connected between the driving circuit board310and the display panel30. The thermal sensing control circuit311is disposed on the driving circuit board310, and the thermal sensing control circuit311is in electrical communication with the sensing traces ST via the flexible circuit board300. Specifically, the current signal generated by the thermal of the area corresponding to the thermal sensors200of the display panel30may be transmitted to the thermal sensing control circuit311via the flexible circuit board300via the sensing traces ST.

In the present embodiment, the display apparatus50may also optionally include a multiplexer circuit301, and the multiplexer circuit301may be optionally disposed on the flexible circuit board300. The multiplexer circuit301is connected between the thermal sensing control circuit311and the sensing traces ST. In some embodiments, the multiplexer circuit301may be optionally disposed on the display panel. In some other embodiments, the multiplexer circuit301may also be integrated in the thermal sensing control circuit311.

In detail, the six thermal sensors200of the display panel30generate different current signals due to the temperature difference of the respective areas. The current signals may be transmitted to the multiplexer circuit301on the flexible circuit board300respectively via the sensing traces ST corresponding to the thermal sensors200, and the thermal sensing control circuit311may sequentially obtain current signals generated by different thermal sensors200via the operation of the multiplexer circuit301, and the current signals are further converted into digital signals and provided to a computing system for analysis.

As may be seen fromFIG.11, the display apparatus50may also optionally include a driver chip312, and the thermal sensing control circuit311is connected between the multiplexer circuit301and the driver chip312. In the present embodiment, the driver chip312is, for example, a system-on-chip (SOC), which may be used to analyze the digital signal provided by the thermal sensing control circuit311, and the driving signals of a plurality of pixel structures in each area where the thermal sensors200are located may be dynamically adjusted according to the analysis result to help improve display quality.

Based on the above, the display panel and the display apparatus of an embodiment of the invention are attached on the substrate via the thermal sensors, and the sensing traces connected to the thermal sensors are electrically independent from the data lines and the scan lines electrically connected to the pixel structures, and therefore the accuracy of thermal sensing may be effectively improved, thus improving display quality.