Display apparatus and manufacturing method thereof

A display apparatus has a display region, and the display region includes a texture recognition region. The display apparatus includes: a display panel, a light-shielding layer disposed on a side of the display panel opposite to a light-exit side of the display panel, and a texture recognition structure disposed on a side of the light-shielding layer facing away from the display panel. The light-shielding layer includes a plurality of first through holes. The texture recognition structure is located in the texture recognition region. The texture recognition structure includes a plurality of texture recognition devices arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of first through holes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national phase entry under 35 USC 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2019/128437 filed on Dec. 25, 2019, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201910122673.7, filed on Feb. 15, 2019, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of display technologies, and in particular, to a display apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof.

BACKGROUND

As the development of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) becomes faster and faster, more and more functions are developed. As the development direction of OLED display panels gradually shifts from wide bezels to narrow bezels or even full screens, fingerprint recognition technology has gradually developed toward under-screen fingerprint recognition.

SUMMARY

In an aspect, a display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus has a display region, and the display region includes a texture recognition region. The display apparatus includes: a display panel; a light-shielding layer disposed on a side of the display panel opposite to a light-exit side of the display panel; and a texture recognition structure disposed on a side of the light-shielding layer facing away from the display panel. The light-shielding layer includes a plurality of first through holes. The texture recognition structure is located in the texture recognition region. The texture recognition structure includes a plurality of texture recognition devices arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of first through holes.

In some embodiments, the display apparatus further includes a protective layer disposed on the side of the light-shielding layer facing away from the display panel.

In some embodiments, the texture recognition structure is disposed on a side of the protective layer facing away from the light-shielding layer.

In some embodiments, the display apparatus further includes a transparent adhesive layer disposed between the display panel and the light-shielding layer.

In some embodiments, a size of the texture recognition region is less than a size of the display region. The light-shielding layer further includes a plurality of second through holes located in a region of the display region other than the texture recognition region.

In some embodiments, the plurality of first through holes and the plurality of second through holes are arranged in an array.

In some embodiments, a size of the texture recognition region is equal to a size of the display region.

In some embodiments, the display panel includes an array substrate. The array substrate includes a substrate and a thin film transistor disposed above the substrate. The thin film transistor includes an active layer, and a material of the active layer includes crystal silicon.

In some embodiments, the thin film transistor is a top-gate thin film transistor.

In some embodiments, a material of the light-shielding layer includes metal or resin.

In some embodiments, the resin is carbon-containing resin.

In some embodiments, the plurality of texture recognition devices and the plurality of first through holes are both arranged in an array.

In some embodiments, the display panel is a flexible display panel.

In some embodiments, the display panel is a self-luminous display panel.

In some embodiments, each texture recognition device is configured to collect light reflected by an object to be detected after the light emitted from the display panel being irradiated onto the object to be detected, so as to recognize a texture of the object.

In some embodiments, the texture recognition device includes a photoelectric sensor.

In another aspect, a manufacturing method of a display apparatus is provided. The method includes: manufacturing a display panel; arranging a light-shielding layer on a side of the display panel opposite to a light-exit side of the display panel, the light-shielding layer including a plurality of first through holes; and arranging a texture recognition structure on a side of the light-shielding layer facing away from the display panel, the texture recognition structure being located in a texture recognition region of the display apparatus, the texture recognition structure including a plurality of texture recognition devices arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of first through holes.

In some embodiments, arranging a light-shielding layer on a side of the display panel opposite to a light-exit side of the display panel, includes: providing a protective layer, and manufacturing the light-shielding layer on a side of the protective layer by using a patterning process; applying a transparent adhesive layer on a side of the light-shielding layer facing away from the protective layer; and bonding a side of the transparent adhesive layer facing away from the light-shielding layer to the side of the display panel opposite to the light-exit side of the display panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In addition, “at least one of A, B, and C” has the same meaning as “at least one of A, B, or C”, and both include the following combinations of A, B, and C: only A, only B, only C, combination of A and B, combination of A and C, combination of B and C, and combination of A, B and C.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display apparatus. The display apparatus has a display region, and the display region includes a texture recognition region. As shown inFIG.1A, the display apparatus includes a display panel10, a light-shielding layer21disposed on a side of the display panel10opposite to a light-exit side of the display panel10, and a texture recognition structure22disposed on a side of the light-shielding layer21away from the display panel10. The texture recognition structure22is located in the texture recognition region of the display apparatus, and the texture recognition region is in the display region of the display apparatus. As shown inFIG.2, the light-shielding layer21includes a plurality of first through holes211, and the texture recognition structure22includes a plurality of texture recognition devices221. The plurality of first through holes211and the plurality of texture recognition devices221are arranged directly opposite to each other in one-to-one correspondence.

In some examples, a principle of optical texture recognition is as described below. Light reflected by an object to be detected (e.g., a finger) passes through the first through holes211and is imaged on the texture recognition devices221. Since light reflected by valleys and ridges of the finger have different intensities, light that reaches the texture recognition devices221after being reflected by the valleys and ridges of the finger also have different intensities. The texture recognition devices221convert light of different intensities into electrical signals of different intensities, and a texture recognition circuit performs fingerprint recognition based on the electrical signals.

Herein, in a case where optical fingerprint recognition technology is used for fingerprint recognition, in order to improve an accuracy of fingerprint recognition, the principle of pinhole imaging may be adopted, and a light-shielding layer having light-transmitting holes may be disposed above an optical sensor.

It will be noted that, the display apparatus may not only be used for fingerprint recognition, but also be used for texture recognition of other objects to be detected that have textures. For example, the other object to be detected may be a palm of a hand, so as to use the display apparatus to perform texture recognition on a palm print. For convenience of description, some embodiments of the present disclosure are described with the object to be detected being a finger and fingerprint recognition as an example.

In some embodiments, a specific structure of the texture recognition structure22is not limited, as long as the texture recognition structure22can convert optical signals into the electrical signals. For example, each texture recognition device221includes at least one of a photosensitive sensor, a photoelectric sensor, or the like.

In some embodiments, an arrangement of the plurality of texture recognition devices221in the texture recognition structure22is not limited, as long as the arrangement thereof meets the requirement that fingerprint detection may be performed when a finger touches any position in the texture recognition region of the display apparatus.

For example, two adjacent texture recognition devices221may be arranged adjoining each other (that is, there is no space between the two adjacent texture recognition devices); or, as shown inFIG.2, two adjacent texture recognition devices221may be arranged at intervals (that is, there is a space between the two adjacent texture recognition devices).

For example, every two adjacent texture recognition devices221in the texture recognition structure22are arranged adjoining each other. For another example, every two adjacent texture recognition devices221in the texture recognition structure22are arranged at intervals. For yet another example, two adjacent texture recognition devices221in the texture recognition structure22may be arranged adjoining each other, and another two adjacent texture recognition devices221in the texture recognition structure22may be arranged at intervals.

In some embodiments, the texture recognition devices221are arranged in an array; or, the texture recognition devices221are arranged irregularly. Some embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit this, as long as the texture recognition devices can perform texture recognition.

In some embodiments, shapes of orthographic projections of the first through holes211on the display panel are not limited, as long as light passing through one first through hole211can finally reach one optical sensor unit221that is directly opposite to the first through hole211.

For example, a shape of an orthographic projection of each first through hole211on the display panel is a circle (as shown inFIG.3A), a rectangle (as shown inFIG.3B), or an ellipse (as shown inFIG.3C).

In some embodiments, a size of the first through hole211is not limited. Specifically, the size of the first through hole211is related to a thickness of the display panel, a distance between the light-shielding layer21and the texture recognition structure22, a size of each texture recognition device221, and the shape of the first through hole211.

For example, a shape of the texture recognition device221is a circle, and a diameter of the texture recognition device221is within a range from 1 μm to 7 μm, inclusive. For example, the diameter of the texture recognition device221is 1 μm, 6 μm, or 7 μm.

In some embodiments, the plurality of first through holes211and the plurality of texture recognition devices221are arranged directly opposite to each other in one-to-one correspondence. For example, one first through hole211corresponds to one texture recognition device221, and a center of the first through hole211and a center of the texture recognition device221corresponding to this first through hole211are on a same vertical line.

In some embodiments, a material of the light-shielding layer21is not limited, as long as the light-shielding layer21can shield light.

For example, the material of the light-shielding layer21may be metal. For another example, the material of the light-shielding layer21may be resin (e.g., carbon-containing resin).

In some embodiments, as shown inFIGS.4and5, a size of the texture recognition region BB is equal to a size of the display region AA; or, the size of the texture recognition region BB is less than the size of the display region AA.

For example, in a case where the size of the texture recognition region BB is equal to the size of the display region AA, the fingerprint recognition may be performed in the entire display region AA of the display device.

In some embodiments, considering that the light-shielding layer21is disposed on the side of the display panel opposite to the light-exit side of the display panel, in order to prevent the light-shielding layer21from affecting normal display of the display apparatus, the display panel may be a self-luminous display panel.

For example, the display panel may be an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel. As shown inFIG.1B, the OLED display panel includes an OLED device13. The OLED device13includes a first electrode131, a light-emitting functional layer132, and a second electrode133. In a case where the first electrode131is an anode, the second electrode133is a cathode; and in a case where the first electrode131is a cathode, the second electrode133is an anode.

In addition; the self-luminous display panel may be of a top-emitting type or a bottom-emitting type. The light-shielding layer21and the texture recognition structure22are disposed on a non-display side of the self-luminous display panel, which is opposite to a display side of the self-luminous display panel.

In summary, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display apparatus, and the light-shielding layer21and the texture recognition structure22are disposed outside the display panel. In this way, on one hand, a process of manufacturing the display panel may be simplified; on another hand, manufacturing the display panel and manufacturing the light-shielding layer21and the texture recognition structure22may be performed in different manufacturing processes. That is, during a manufacturing process of the display panel, the light-shielding layer21and the texture recognition structure22may be manufactured simultaneously. Finally, the light-shielding layer21and the texture recognition structure22that are manufactured as a one-piece structure are attached to the display panel, so as to save a manufacturing time of the display apparatus and reduce impurities adhering to the display apparatus.

In some embodiments; as shown inFIG.1B, the display panel includes an array substrate. The array substrate includes a substrate11and thin film transistors12disposed above the substrate11, Each thin film transistor12includes an active layer121, and a material of the active layer121includes crystal silicon. In addition, the thin film transistor12further includes a gate insulating layer122, a gate123, a source125, and a drain126.

In some embodiments, the array substrate further includes a buffer layer disposed between the substrate11and the thin film transistors12.

It will be noted that each thin film transistor12may be any one of a top gate type, a bottom gate type, or a double gate type.

In some embodiments, in a case where the thin film transistor12is a top-gate thin film transistor, the thin film transistor12further includes an interlayer insulating layer124disposed between the gate123and both the source125and the drain126.

In some examples, the material of the active layer121includes silicon. For example, the material of the active layer121is at least one of amorphous silicon (a-Si), polysilicon (p-Si), or low temperature polysilicon (LTPS).

In the related art, a light-shielding layer is usually disposed between a substrate and a buffer layer. Since a light-shielding layer includes a plurality of light-transmitting holes, a surface of the buffer layer away from the substrate is uneven (for example, there are depressions and protrusions on the surface of the buffer layer away from the substrate). After arranging a thin film transistor on a side of the buffer layer away from the substrate, if an active layer of the thin film transistor includes crystal silicon, in a crystallization process of the crystal silicon, a difference in crystallization may occur due to the uneven surface of the buffer layer away from the substrate.

Specifically, there is a difference in crystallization between a portion of the crystal silicon on the depressions of the surface of the buffer layer away from the substrate and a portion of the crystal silicon on the protrusions of the surface of the buffer layer away from the substrate. As a result, it reduces a uniformity of the active layer and affects properties of the thin film transistor, and thereby affects a display effect of the display apparatus.

On this basis, in the display apparatus provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure, the light-shielding layer21is disposed outside the display panel, and the display panel and the light-shielding layer21are manufactured separately. In this way, each structure in the display panel will not be affected by the light-shielding layer21during a formation process thereof. In this way, the crystal silicon in the active layer121will not have the difference in crystallization due to existence of the light-shielding layer21. Therefore, it may be possible prevent a poor uniformity of the active layer121from affecting the properties of the thin film transistor12and affecting the display effect of the display apparatus.

In some embodiments, an active layer121of the top-gate thin film transistor is closer to the buffer layer than an active layer121of the bottom-gate thin film transistor or the double-gate thin film transistor. If the active layer121of the top-gate thin film transistor is disposed on the buffer layer, the uniformity of the active layer121of the top-gate thin film transistor will be worse. Therefore, some embodiments of the present disclosure may be able to effectively solve the problem of poor uniformity of the active layer121of the top-gate thin film transistor.

In some embodiments, the material of the light-shielding layer21includes metal.

In some embodiments, if metal is used as the material of the light-shielding layer21, the light-shielding layer21may have a small thickness, and therefore the thickness of the display apparatus may be reduced.

However, if the arrangement in the related art is adopted (that is, the light-shielding layer is disposed between the substrate and the buffer layer) and the material of the light-shielding layer includes metal, the light-shielding layer will interact with conductive structures (e.g., a gate) in the thin film transistor due to the electrical conductivity of the light-shielding layer, resulting in accumulation of charges. This will cause overall performance drift of the thin film transistor and thereby affect the display effect of the display device.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, even if the material of the light-shielding layer21includes metal, compared with the related art, a distance between the light-shielding layer21and the conductive structures in the thin film transistor12is longer. Therefore, it may be possible to prevent the light-shielding layer21from interacting with the conductive structures in the thin film transistor12to a certain extent, and to avoid the overall performance drift of the thin film transistor12due to the accumulation of charges, thereby improving the display effect of the display apparatus.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.4, in the case where the size of the texture recognition region BB is less than the size of the display region AA, the light-shielding layer21further includes a plurality of second through holes212. The second through holes212are located in a region of the display region AA other than the texture recognition region BB. It will be noted that some embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit a position of the texture recognition region BB in the display region AA.

For example, a shape and size of the second through holes212may be the same as the shape and size of the first through holes211; or, the shape and size of the second through holes212may be different from the shape and size of the first through holes211, which is not limited in some embodiments of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.4, in the case where the size of the texture recognition region BB is less than the size of the display region AA, the light-shielding layer21further includes the plurality of second through holes212located in the region of the display region AA other than the texture recognition region BB. When the display device is put into use, heat may be through the first through holes211and the second through holes212.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.4, the second through holes212and the first through holes211are arranged in an array, and the shape and size of the second through holes212are the same as the shape and size of the first through holes211. In this way, the heat of the display apparatus can be dissipated evenly.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.5, in the case where the size of the texture recognition region BB is equal to the size of the display region AA, the first through holes211are in one-to-one correspondence with the texture recognition devices221, and there is no need to provide the second through holes212. In this case, the heat of the entire display apparatus may be dissipated by using the first through holes211. It will be noted that, the size of the texture recognition region BB is shown to be slightly less than the size of the display region AA inFIG.5for clarity of illustration. However, in fact, the sizes of the two are the same.

It will be noted that, the size of the texture recognition region BB may be equal to the size of the display region AA; or, the size of the texture recognition region BB may be less than the size of the display region AA, which is not limited in some embodiments of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, the display panel is a flexible display panel.

As shown inFIG.6, the substrate11of the flexible display panel may be composed of flexible films111and spacer layers112that are arranged alternately.

For example, a material of the flexible film111may be polyimide (PI).

In some embodiments, the flexible display panel is usually manufactured on a rigid substrate, Therefore, the longer the manufacturing time of the flexible display panel, the more impurities scattered in the display panel and attached from the rigid substrate. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the light-shielding layer21is disposed outside the flexible display panel, so that the light-shielding layer21and the flexible display panel are independent of each other. In this way, it may be possible to reduce the manufacturing time of the flexible display panel and thereby reduce the impurities adhering to the display panel.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.7, the display apparatus further includes a protective layer30. The protective layer30is disposed on the side of the light-shielding layer21away from the display panel10.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.7, the display apparatus further includes a transparent adhesive layer31. The transparent adhesive layer31is disposed between the display panel and the light-shielding layer. The transparent adhesive layer31is configured to fix the light-shielding layer21and the protective layer30on the display panel10. A material of the transparent adhesive layer31may be pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA); or, the material of the transparent adhesive layer31may be optically clear adhesive (OCA).

It will be noted that, some embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the material of the protective layer30, as long as the protective layer30may protect the flexible display panel in a case where the display panel10is the flexible display panel.

For example, the material of the protective layer30is poly terephthalic acid plastics (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate (PET)).

In some embodiments, the protective layer30may protect both the light-shielding layer21and the flexible display panel.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a method manufacturing of a display apparatus. As shown inFIGS.1A,2and7, the manufacturing method includes: manufacturing a display panel; arranging a light-shielding layer21on a side of the display panel10opposite to a light-exit side of the display panel10, the light-shielding layer21including a plurality of first through holes211; and arranging a texture recognition structure22on a side of the light-shielding layer away from the display panel. The texture recognition structure22is located in a texture recognition region of the display apparatus, the texture recognition structure includes a plurality of texture recognition devices221, and the plurality of texture recognition devices221are arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of first through holes211.

In some embodiments, in the manufacturing method of the display apparatus, arranging a light-shielding layer21on a side of the display panel10opposite to a light-exit side of the display panel10includes: providing a protective layer30, and manufacturing the light-shielding layer21on a side of the protective layer30by using a patterning process; applying a transparent adhesive layer31on a side of the light-shielding layer21away from the protective layer30; and attaching the protective layer30with the light-shielding layer21and the transparent adhesive layer31to the side of the display panel10opposite to the light-exit side of the display panel10.

The transparent adhesive layer31is configured to fix the light-shielding layer21and the protective layer30on the display panel10. A material of the transparent adhesive layer31may be pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA); or, the material of the transparent adhesive layer31may be optically clear adhesive (OCA).

In some embodiments, a specific structure of the texture recognition structure22is not limited, as long as the texture recognition structure22can convert optical signals into electrical signals. For example, each texture recognition device221includes at least one of a photosensitive sensor, a photoelectric sensor, or the like.

In some embodiments, an arrangement of the plurality of texture recognition devices221in the texture recognition structure22is not limited, as long as the arrangement thereof meets the requirement that fingerprint detection may be performed when a finger touches any position of the texture recognition region of the display apparatus.

For example, two adjacent texture recognition devices221may be arranged adjoining each other (that is, there is no space between the two adjacent texture recognition devices); or, as shown inFIG.2, two adjacent texture recognition devices221may be arranged at intervals (that is, there is a space between the two adjacent texture recognition devices).

For example, every two adjacent texture recognition devices221in the texture recognition structure22are arranged adjoining each other. For another example, every two adjacent texture recognition devices221in the texture recognition structure22are arranged at intervals. For yet another example, two adjacent texture recognition devices221in the texture recognition structure22may be arranged adjoining each other, and another two adjacent texture recognition devices221in the texture recognition structure22may be arranged at intervals.

In some embodiments, the texture recognition devices221are arranged in an array; or, the texture recognition devices221are arranged irregularly. Some embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit this, as long as the texture recognition devices can perform texture recognition.

In some embodiments, a shape of an orthographic projection of each first through hole211on the display panel is not limited, as long as light passing through one first through hole211can finally reach one optical sensor unit221that is directly opposite to the first through hole211.

For example, the shape of the orthographic projection of the first through hole211on the display panel is a circle (as shown inFIG.3A), a rectangle (as shown inFIG.3B), or an ellipse (as shown inFIG.30).

In some embodiments, a size of the first through hole211is not limited. Specifically, the size of the first through hole211is related to a thickness of the display panel, a distance between the light-shielding layer21and the texture recognition structure22, a size of each texture recognition device221, and a shape of the first through hole211.

For example, a shape of the texture recognition device221is a circle, and a diameter of the texture recognition device221is within a range from 1 μm to 7 μm, inclusive. For example, the diameter of the texture recognition device221is 1 μm, 6 μm, or 7 μm.

In some embodiments, the plurality of first through holes211and the plurality of texture recognition devices221are arranged directly opposite to each other in one-to-one correspondence. For example, one first through hole211corresponds to one texture recognition device221, and a center of the first through hole211and a center of the texture recognition device221corresponding to this first through hole211are on a same vertical line.

In some embodiments, a material of the light-shielding layer21is not limited, as long as the light-shielding layer21can shield light.

For example, the material of the light-shielding layer21is metal. For another example, the material of the light-shielding layer21is resin (e.g., carbon-containing resin).

In some embodiments, as shown inFIGS.4and5, a size of the texture recognition region BB is equal to a size of the display region AA; or, the size of the texture recognition region BB is less than the size of the display region AA.

For example, in a case where the size of the texture recognition region BB is equal to the size of the display region AA, the fingerprint recognition may be performed in the entire display region AA of the display device.

In some embodiments, considering that the light-shielding layer21is disposed on the side of the display panel opposite to the light-exit side of the display panel, in order to prevent the light-shielding layer21from affecting normal display of the display apparatus, the display panel may be a self-luminous display panel.

For example, the display panel is an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel. As shown inFIG.1B, the OLED display panel includes an OLED device13. The OLED device13includes a first electrode131, a light-emitting functional layer132, and a second electrode133. In a case where the first electrode131is an anode, the second electrode133is a cathode. In a case where the first electrode131is a cathode, the second electrode133is an anode.

In addition, the self-luminous display panel may be of a top-emitting type or a bottom-emitting type. The light-shielding layer21and the texture recognition structure22are disposed on a non-display side of the self-luminous display panel; which is opposite to a display side of the self-luminous display panel.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a manufacturing method of a display apparatus, the light-shielding layer21and the texture recognition structure22are disposed outside the display panel. In this way, on one hand, a process of manufacturing the display panel may be simplified; on another hand, manufacturing the display panel and manufacturing the light-shielding layer21and the texture recognition structure22may be performed in different manufacturing processes. That is, during a manufacturing process of the display panel, the light-shielding layer21and the texture recognition structure22may be manufactured simultaneously. Finally, the light-shielding layer21and the texture recognition structure22that are manufactured as a one-piece structure are attached to the display panel, so as to save a manufacturing time of the display apparatus and reduce impurities adhering to the display apparatus.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIGS.1A and7, the display panel10is a flexible display panel. The light-shielding layer21and the texture recognition structure22constitute at least a part of a texture recognition module20. The display apparatus further includes a protective layer30located between the light-shielding layer21and the texture recognition structure22.

It will be noted that, the material of the protective layer30is not limited, as long as the protective layer30may protect the flexible display panel in the case where the display panel10is the flexible display panel.

For example, the material of the protective layer30is PET.

In some embodiments, the protective layer30may protect both the light-shielding layer21and the flexible display panel.