DEVICE PANEL

A device panel includes a substrate, electronic devices, and first signal lines. The substrate is provided with a first bending area and a non-bending area outside the first bending area. The substrate is adaptable for bending along a first bending line in the first bending area. The electronic devices are disposed on the substrate, and include first electronic devices located in the non-bending area and second electronic devices located in the first bending area. The first signal lines extend in a first direction, and respectively connect the electronic devices in series. The first bending line is perpendicular to the first direction. Two junctions between any one of the second electronic devices and one of the first signal lines are located on two opposite sides of the any one of the second electronic devices in an axial direction of the first bending line.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 112128589, filed on Jul. 31, 2023. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The disclosure relates to a device panel, and more specifically, to a flexible device panel.

Related Art

Mobile electronic devices have significantly changed people's lifestyles, and devices such as smartphones, fitness bands, smartwatches, or wearable physiological signal detection devices for medical use have become ubiquitous. In pursuit of comfort in wearing/mounting or convenience in carrying, flexibility has gradually become one of the indispensable features of mobile electronic devices. However, in mobile electronic devices, in the case of either a display panel for display or a device panel for sensing, electrical properties may be affected due to a strain on display devices or sensing devices caused by signal lines when the mobile electronic device is bent.

SUMMARY

The disclosure provides a flexible device panel having improved reliability in electrical operation.

A device panel of the disclosure includes a substrate, a plurality of electronic devices, and a plurality of first signal lines. The substrate is provided with a first bending area and a non-bending area outside the first bending area. The substrate is adaptable for bending along a first bending line in the first bending area. The plurality of electronic devices are disposed on the substrate and include a plurality of first electronic devices disposed in the non-bending area, and a plurality of second electronic devices disposed in the first bending area. The plurality of first signal lines extend in a first direction and respectively connect the electronic devices in series. The first bending line is perpendicular to the first direction. Two junctions between any one of the second electronic devices and one of the first signal lines are located on two opposite sides of the any one of the second electronic devices in an axial direction of the first bending line.

Based on the above, when the device panel according to an embodiment of the disclosure is bent along the bending line, since the junctions between the electronic devices and the signal lines in the bending area are all located on two opposite sides of the electronic devices in the axial direction of the bending line, it is possible to significantly reduce the strain amount of the electronic devices resulting from pulling by the signal lines in the bending area to thus improve stability of the operational electrical properties of the device panel.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The term “about,” “approximately,” “essentially,” or “substantially” as used herein is inclusive of the stated value and a mean within an acceptable range of deviation for the particular value as determined by people having ordinary skill in the art, considering the measurement in question and the error associated with measurement of the particular quantity (i.e., the limitations of the measurement system). For example, “about” may mean within one or more standard deviations, for example, ±30%, ±20%, ±15%, ±10%, or ±5% of the stated value. Moreover, a relatively acceptable range of deviation or standard deviation may be chosen for the term “about,” “approximately,” “essentially,” or “substantially” as used herein based on measuring properties, cutting properties, or other properties, instead of applying one standard deviation across all the properties.

In the accompanying drawings, thicknesses of layers, films, panels, areas, etc. are exaggerated for clarity. It should be understood that when a device such as a layer, film, area, or substrate is referred to as being “on” or “connected to” another device, it may be directly on or connected to another device, or intervening devices may also be present. In contrast, when a device is referred to as being “directly on” or “directly connected to” another device, no intervening devices are present. As used herein, the term “connected” may refer to physical connection and/or electrical connection. Also, “electrical connection” may include a case in which other devices are present between two devices.

Moreover, relative terms such as “below” or “bottom” and “above” or “top” may serve to describe the relation between one component and another component herein as shown in the drawings. It should also be understood that the relative terms are intended to include different orientations of a device in addition to the orientation shown in the drawings. For example, if a device in the drawings is turned upside down, a component described as being “below” another component shall be re-orientated to be “above” the another component. Thus, the exemplary term “below” may include the orientations of “below” and “above”, depending on the specific orientation of the drawings. Similarly, if a device in the drawings is turned upside down, a component described to be “under” or “below” another component shall be re-oriented to be “above” the another component. Therefore, the exemplary term “above” or “below” may include orientations of “above” and “below”.

Exemplary embodiments will be described herein with reference to schematic cross-sectional views illustrating idealized embodiments. Hence, variations of shapes resulting from manufacturing technologies and/or tolerances, for instance, are to be expected. The embodiments described herein should not be construed as being limited to the particular shapes of regions as illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For instance, regions shown or described as being flat may typically have rough and/or non-linear features. Besides, the acute angle as shown may be round. That is, the regions shown in the drawings are schematic in nature, and their shapes are not intended to show the exact shapes of the regions, and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments provided in the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, identical reference signs are used in the drawings and descriptions to refer to identical or similar parts.

FIG.1is a schematic front view of a device panel according to a first embodiment of the disclosure.FIG.2AandFIG.2Bare schematic cross-sectional views of the device panel inFIG.1.FIG.3is a schematic front view of another embodiment of the device panel inFIG.1.FIG.2Acorresponds to a sectional line A-A′ and a sectional line B-B′ inFIG.1.FIG.2Bcorresponds to a sectional line C-C′ and a sectional line D-D′ inFIG.1. Referring toFIG.1, a device panel10includes a substrate100, a plurality of electronic devices120, a plurality of first signal lines SL1, and a plurality of second signal lines SL2. The substrate100is provided with at least one bending area and a non-bending area NBA outside the bending area.

In this embodiment, the substrate100may have two bending areas (i.e., two first bending areas), respectively being a bending area BA1aand a bending area BA1b, and these two bending areas are arranged at an interval along a first direction D1. Specifically, the bending area BA1aand the bending area BA1bare each provided with a non-bending area NBA on two opposite sides in the first direction D1. The substrate100is adaptable for bending along a bending line BL1a(i.e., a first bending line) in the bending area BA1a, and bending along a bending line BL1bin the bending area BA1b. After bending, a minimum radius of curvature of the device panel10of this embodiment in the bending area may reach a scale of 100 micrometers.

For example, in this embodiment, the width (i.e., the width of a bendable range) of the bending area BA1ain the first direction D1may be different from the width of another bending area BA1bin the first direction D1, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the bendable ranges of the two bending areas may also be different.

The substrate100is provided with a plurality of electronic devices120, a plurality of first signal lines SL1, and a plurality of second signal lines SL2. In this embodiment, the plurality of first signal lines SL1intersect (for example, but not limited thereto, being perpendicular to) the plurality of second signal lines SL2. For example, the plurality of first signal lines SL1may be arranged along a second direction D2and extend in the first direction D1. The plurality of second signal lines SL2may be arranged along the first direction D1and extend in the second direction D2. Herein, the first direction D1may optionally be perpendicular to the second direction D2. In this embodiment, the signal lines are, for example, scan lines, data lines, or power lines, but are not limited thereto.

To satisfy the stretchable properties of the device panel10, orthographic projections onto the substrate100of at least a part of the signal lines connecting the electronic devices120in series have substantially a bent shape. Herein, the orthographic projection refers to a projection of the signal line along a third direction D3onto the substrate100, and the third direction D3is perpendicular to the first direction D1and the second direction D2.

The plurality of electronic devices120may be connected in series by the plurality of first signal lines SL1into multiple rows along the first direction D1, and connected in series by the plurality of second signal lines SL2into multiple columns along the second direction D2. In this embodiment, each of the electronic devices120may be electrically connected to one first signal line SL1and one second signal line SL2, but the disclosure not limited thereto.

For example, in this embodiment, the electronic device120may be a light-emitting device having self-luminous properties. The light-emitting device includes, for example, a pixel circuit (not shown) and at least one light-emitting element (not shown), but is not limited thereto. That is, the device panel10of this embodiment may be a display panel. However, in another embodiment, the electronic device120may also be a sensing device having light-sensing capabilities or other electronic devices having different functions, which is not particularly limited in the disclosure.

Furthermore, the plurality of electronic devices120may include a plurality of first electronic devices121disposed in the non-bending area NBA, and a plurality of second electronic devices122disposed in the bending area BA1aand the bending area BA1b. In this embodiment, since the widths of the bending area BA1aand the bending area BA1bin the first direction D1are not the same as each other, the quantities of the electronic devices120disposed in the two bending areas are not the same as each other, either.

For example, the range of the bending area BA1amay cover two strings of electronic devices120connected in series by two second signal lines SL2, and the range of the bending area BA1bmay cover only one string of electronic devices120connected in series by one second signal line SL2, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In this embodiment, the structure or properties of the first electronic devices121disposed in the non-bending area NBA are not different from those of the second electronic devices122disposed in the bending area BA1aand the bending area BA1b. Herein, the electronic devices120are simply distinguished as the first electronic devices121or the second electronic devices122based on the difference in the arrangement areas.

The connection configuration of the first signal line SL1extending in the first direction D1connecting with the first electronic device121in the non-bending area NBA is different from the connection configuration of the first signal line SL1connecting with the second electronic device122in the bending area BA1aor the bending area BA1b. Specifically, two junctions between the first signal line SL1and the first electronic device121are located on two opposite sides of the first electronic device121in the first direction D1. In contrast, two junctions between the first signal line SL1and the second electronic device122are located on two opposite sides of the second electronic device122in the axial direction (e.g., the second direction D2) of the bending line BL1aor the bending line BL1b.

Since the device panel10of this embodiment is adaptable for bending along the bending line BL1aor the bending line BL1bin the first direction D1, with the connection configuration of the first signal line SL1and the second electronic device122as described above, it is possible to significantly reduce the strain amount of the second electronic device122resulting from pulling by the first signal line SL1in the bending area, to avoid damaging the second electronic device122and thus influencing the operational electrical properties.

On the other hand, the connection configuration of the second signal line SL2extending in the second direction D2connecting with the first electronic device121in the non-bending area NBA is substantially the same as the connection configuration of the second signal line SL2connecting with the second electronic device122in the bending area BA1aor the bending area BA1b. That is, two junctions between the second signal line SL2and the first electronic device121and two junctions between the second signal line SL2and the second electronic device122are both located on two opposite sides of the electronic device120in the second direction D2.

However, in this embodiment, a length L2of a portion of a second signal line SL2-2that extends in the bending area BA1aor the bending area BA1band connects between two adjacent second electronic devices122may be less than a length L1of a portion of a second signal line SL2-1that extends in the non-bending area NBA and connects between two adjacent first electronic devices121.

Specifically, in this embodiment, an orthographic projection onto the substrate100of the second signal line SL2-1which connects a plurality of first electronic devices121in series along the second direction D2has a bent shape, and an orthographic projection onto the substrate100of the second signal line SL2-2which connects a plurality of second electronic devices122in series along the second direction D2has a straight line shape.

Since the two junctions between the first signal line SL1and the second electronic device122and the two junctions between the second signal line SL2-2and the second electronic device122are both located on two opposite sides of the second electronic device122in the axial direction (i.e., the second direction D2) of the bending line, the straight-line design of the second signal line SL2-2can increase the layout space of the first signal line SL1on the two opposite sides of the second electronic device122. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. According to other embodiments, if the arrangement interval of the second electronic devices122along the second direction D2is large enough, the second signal line located in the bending area may also adopt a bent circuit design.

Referring toFIG.1andFIG.2A, in this embodiment, the thickness of one first signal line SL1connecting a plurality of first electronic devices121and three second electronic devices122in series along the first direction D1may vary in different areas. For example, the first signal line SL1may have a first portion SL1aand a second portion SL1b. Two first electronic devices121arranged adjacently along the first direction D1may be connected in series by the first portion SL1a, and one first electronic device121and one second electronic device122arranged adjacently along the first direction D1may be connected in series by the second portion SL1b. That is, the first portion SL1aof the first signal line SL1is located in the non-bending area NBA, and the second portion SL1bof the first signal line SL1extends from the non-bending area NBA to the bending area BA1aor the bending area BA1b.

The junction of the first signal line SL1connecting with the second electronic device122is located on one side of the second electronic device122in the axial direction of the bending line, and not on one side of the second electronic device122facing the adjacent first electronic device121. Thus, the length of the second portion SL1bof the first signal line SL1is greater than the length of the first portion SL1aof the first signal line SL1. To reduce the impedance difference resulting from the different lengths of the first portion SL1aand the second portion SL1bof the first signal line SL1, a thickness t1bof the second portion SL1bof the first signal line SL1may be greater than a thickness t1aof the first portion SL1aof the first signal line SL1.

In this embodiment, the first signal line SL1further has a third portion SL1clocated in the bending area BA1a, and the third portion SL1cconnects two second electronic devices122arranged adjacently along the first direction D1in series. Two junctions between the third portion SL1cand the respective two second electronic devices122are both located on one side of the two second electronic devices122in the axial direction of the bending line, and not on two opposite sides of the two second electronic devices122facing each other. Thus, the length of the third portion SL1cof the first signal line SL1is greater than the length of the second portion SL1bof the first signal line SL1. To reduce the impedance difference resulting from the different lengths of the third portion SL1cand the second portion SL1bof the first signal line SL1, a thickness t1cof the third portion SL1cof the first signal line SL1may be greater than the thickness t1bof the second portion SL1bof the first signal line SL1.

Referring toFIG.1andFIG.2B, on the other hand, in this embodiment, since the length L2of the portion of the second signal line SL2-2that extends in the bending area BA1aor the bending area BA1band connects between two adjacent second electronic devices122is less than the length L1of the portion of the second signal line SL2-1that extends in the non-bending area NBA and connects between two adjacent first electronic devices121, a thickness t2-2of the second signal line SL2-2located in the bending area may be less than a thickness t2-1of the second signal line SL2-1located in the non-bending area NBA to reduce the impedance difference resulting from the different lengths of the second signal line SL2-1and the second signal line SL2-2.

However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. Referring toFIG.3, in a device panel10A according to another modification embodiment, one signal line or different signal lines may adopt a design with a single thickness, but the widths may be different. For example, a width W1bof a second portion SL1b-A of a first signal line SL1-A of the device panel10A may be greater than a width W1aof a first portion SL1a-A of the first signal line SL1-A, and a width W2-2of a second signal line SL2A-2located in the bending area may be less than a width W2-1of a second signal line SL2A-1located in the non-bending area NBA.

Some other embodiments will be described below to further illustrate the disclosure. The same components will be labeled with the same reference signs, and descriptions of the same technical contents will be omitted. Reference may be made to the embodiments above for the omitted descriptions, which will not be repeated below.

FIG.4is a schematic front view of a device panel according to a second embodiment of the disclosure.FIG.5AandFIG.5Bare schematic cross-sectional views of the device panel inFIG.4.FIG.6is a schematic front view of another embodiment of the device panel inFIG.4.FIG.5Acorresponds to a sectional line E-E′ inFIG.4.FIG.5Bcorresponds to a sectional line F-F′ and a sectional line G-G′ inFIG.4.

Referring toFIG.4, the difference between a device panel20of this embodiment and the device panel10inFIG.1lies in that the device panel20is further provided with a bending area BA2(i.e., a second bending area) along the second direction D2, and a substrate100A is adaptable for bending along a bending line BL2(i.e., a second bending line) in the bending area BA2. In this embodiment, the bending line BL2may optionally be parallel to the first direction D1, but is not limited thereto. That is, the bending line BL2may intersect (for example, being perpendicular to) the bending line BL1aand the bending line BL1b.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a plurality of electronic devices120A further include a plurality of third electronic devices123disposed in the bending area BA2. In this embodiment, the structure or properties of the first electronic devices121disposed in the non-bending area NBA are not different from those of the second electronic devices122disposed in the bending area BA1aand the bending area BA1band the third electronic devices123disposed in the bending area BA2. Herein, the electronic devices120A are simply distinguished as the first electronic devices121, the second electronic devices122, or the third electronic devices123based on the difference in the arrangement areas.

The connection configuration of a second signal line SL2-A extending in the second direction D2connecting with the first electronic device121in the non-bending area NBA is different from the connection configuration of the second signal line SL2-A connecting with the third electronic device123in the bending area BA2. Specifically, two junctions between the second signal line SL2-A and the first electronic device121are located on two opposite sides of the first electronic device121in the second direction D2. In contrast, two junctions between the second signal line SL2-A and the third electronic device123are located on two opposite sides of the third electronic device123in the axial direction (e.g., the first direction D1) of the bending line BL2.

Since the device panel20of this embodiment is further adaptable for bending along the bending line BL2in the second direction D2, with the connection configuration of the second signal line SL2-A and the third electronic device123as described above, it is possible to significantly reduce the strain amount of the third electronic device123resulting from pulling by the second signal line SL2-A in the bending area BA2, to avoid damaging the third electronic device123and thus influencing the operational electrical properties.

On the other hand, the connection configuration of the first signal line SL1extending in the first direction D1connecting with the first electronic device121in the non-bending area NBA is substantially the same as the connection configuration of the first signal line SL1connecting with the third electronic device123in the bending area BA2. That is, two junctions between the first signal line SL1and the first electronic device121and two junctions between the first signal line SL1and the third electronic device123are both located on two opposite sides of the electronic device120A in the first direction D1.

However, in this embodiment, a length L4of a portion of a first signal line SL1-2that extends in the bending area BA2and connects between two adjacent third electronic devices123may be less than a length L3of a portion of a first signal line SL1-1that extends in the non-bending area NBA and connects between two adjacent first electronic devices121.

Specifically, in this embodiment, an orthographic projection onto the substrate100A of the first signal line SL1-1which connects a plurality of first electronic devices121in series along the first direction D1has a bent shape, and an orthographic projection onto the substrate100A of the first signal line SL1-2which connects a plurality of third electronic devices123in series along the first direction D1has a straight-line shape.

Since the two junctions between the second signal line SL2-3and the third electronic device123and the two junctions between the first signal line SL1-2and the third electronic device123are both located on two opposite sides of the third electronic device123in the axial direction (i.e., the first direction D1) of the bending line BL2, the straight-line design of the first signal line SL1-2can increase the layout space of the second signal line SL2-3on the two opposite sides of the third electronic device123. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. According to other embodiments, if the arrangement interval of the third electronic devices123along the first direction D1is large enough, the first signal line located in the bending area BA2may also adopt a bent circuit design.

Referring toFIG.4andFIG.5A, in this embodiment, the thickness of one second signal line SL2-3connecting a plurality of first electronic devices121and one third electronic device123in series along the second direction D2may vary in different areas. For example, the second signal line SL2-3may have a first portion SL2a-3and a second portion SL2b-3. Two first electronic devices121arranged adjacently along the second direction D2may be connected in series by the first portion SL2a-3, and one first electronic device121and one third electronic device123arranged adjacently along the second direction D2may be connected in series by the second portion SL2b-3. That is, the first portion SL2a-3of the second signal line SL2-3is located in the non-bending area NBA, and the second portion SL2b-3of the second signal line SL2-3extends from the non-bending area NBA to the bending area BA2.

The junction of the second signal line SL2-3connecting with the third electronic device123is located on one side of the third electronic device123in the axial direction of the bending line BL2, and not on one side of the third electronic device123facing the adjacent first electronic device121. Thus, the length of the second portion SL2b-3of the second signal line SL2-3is greater than the length of the first portion SL2a-3. To reduce the impedance difference resulting from the different lengths of the first portion SL2a-3and the second portion SL2b-3of the second signal line SL2-3, a thickness t2bof the second portion SL2b-3of the second signal line SL2-3may be greater than a thickness t2aof the first portion SL2a-3of the second signal line SL2-3.

Referring toFIG.4andFIG.5B, on the other hand, in this embodiment, since the length L4of the portion of the first signal line SL1-2that extends in the bending area BA2and connects between two adjacent third electronic devices123is less than the length L3of the portion of the first signal line SL1-1that extends in the non-bending area NBA and connects between two adjacent first electronic devices121, a thickness t1-2of the first signal line SL1-2located in the bending area BA2may be less than a thickness t1-1of the first signal line SL1-1located in the non-bending area NBA to reduce the impedance difference resulting from the different lengths of the first signal line SL1-1and the first signal line SL1-2.

However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. Referring toFIG.6, in a device panel20A according to another modification embodiment, one signal line or different signal lines may adopt a design with a single thickness, but the widths may be different. For example, a width W2bof a second portion SL2b-B of a second signal line SL2-B of the device panel20A may be greater than a width W2aof a first portion SL2a-B of the second signal line SL2-B, and a width W1-2of a first signal line SL1B-2located in the bending area BA2may be less than a width W1-1of a first signal line SL1B-1located in the non-bending area NBA.

In summary of the above, when the device panel according to an embodiment of the disclosure is bent along the bending line, since the junctions between the electronic devices and the signal lines in the bending area are all located on two opposite sides of the electronic devices in the axial direction of the bending line, it is possible to significantly reduce the strain amount of the electronic devices resulting from pulling by the signal lines in the bending area to thus improve stability of the operational electrical properties of the device panel.