Display panel and manufacturing method therefor, and display device

A display panel includes: a display substrate having a display area and a peripheral area around the display area; a cover plate assembled with the display substrate; a reinforcement layer disposed in the peripheral area, the reinforcement layer including a plurality of first corner guards, and the first corner guards being distributed around the display area at intervals; a dam disposed in the peripheral area, the dam being of a closed loop structure around the display area, the dam having a plurality of corners, and inner walls of the corners being matched with and in contact with outer walls of the first corner guards in one-to-one correspondence; and a filling layer filled in a space enclosed by the display substrate, the cover plate, the first corner guards and the dam, the filling layer being in contact with inner walls of the first corner guards.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national phase entry under 35 USC 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN 20201100745, filed on Jul. 8, 2020, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201910635296.7, filed on Jul. 15, 2019, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a display device, a display panel and a manufacturing method therefor.

BACKGROUND

For a display panel, the encapsulation is an indispensable process, and the purpose is to prevent moisture and oxygen from eroding the display panel to ensure the display effect. In particular, for an organic light-emitting diode (OLEO) display panel, light-emitting devices thereof are corroded easily by moisture and oxygen, which affects the display effect.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a display panel is provided. The display panel includes a display substrate, a cover plate, a reinforcing layer, a dam, and a filling layer. The display substrate has a display area and a peripheral area around the display area. The cover plate is assembled with the display substrate. The reinforcing layer is disposed in the peripheral area and located between the display substrate and the cover plate. The reinforcing layer includes a plurality of first corner guards, and the first corner guards are distributed around the display area at intervals. The dam is disposed in the peripheral area and located between the display substrate and the cover plate. The dam is of a closed loop structure around the display area, and the dam has a plurality of corners. Inner walls of the corners are matched with and in contact with outer walls of the first corner guards in one-to-one correspondence. The filling layer is filled in a space enclosed by the display substrate, the cover plate, the first corner guards and the dam. The filling layer is in contact with inner walls of the first corner guards.

In some embodiments, a corner in the corners is in an arc shape. A first corner guard in contact with the corner includes a first curved portion, and radians of the first curved portion are the same as radians of the corner.

In some embodiments, the first corner guard further includes at least one first protrusion disposed on an inner wall of the first curved portion.

In some embodiments, a height of a first protrusion in the at least one first protrusion is not less than one third of a width of the first curved portion, and is not greater than a half of the width of the first curved portion. The width of the first curved portion is a minimum distance between the inner wall and an outer wall of the first curved portion.

In some embodiments, the at least one first protrusion includes two first protrusions, and the two first protrusions are disposed on two ends of the first curved portion, respectively.

In some embodiments, the two first protrusions are of a same shape and of a same size.

In some embodiments, the two first protrusions are axisymmetric.

In some embodiments, the reinforcing layer further includes a plurality of second corner guards. The second corner guards are distributed around the dam at intervals, and are arranged on outer sides of the corners in one-to-one correspondence.

In some embodiments, a corner in the corners is in an arc shape. A second corner guard in contact with the corner includes a second curved portion, and radians of the second curved portion are not less than radians of the corner.

In some embodiments, the second corner guard further includes at least one second protrusion disposed on an outer wall of the second curved portion.

In some embodiments, a height of a second protrusion in the at least one second protrusion is not less than one third of a width of the second curved portion, and is not greater than a half of the width of the second curved portion. The width of the second curved portion is a minimum distance between an inner wall and the outer wall of the second curved portion.

In some embodiments, the at least one second protrusion includes two second protrusions, and the two second protrusions are disposed on two ends of the second curved portion, respectively.

In some embodiments, the two second protrusions are of a same shape and of a same size.

In some embodiments, the two second protrusions are axisymmetric.

In some embodiments; each second corner guard and a corresponding corner have a gap therebetween.

In some embodiments, the reinforcing layer is made of a photoresist.

In another aspect, a manufacturing method of a display panel is provided. The manufacturing method includes: providing a display substrate and a cover plate, the display substrate having a display area and a peripheral area around the display area; forming a reinforcing layer in the peripheral area, the reinforcing layer including a plurality of first corner guards distributed around the display area at intervals; forming a dam material layer in a closed loop shape in the peripheral area, the first corner guards being located in a region enclosed by the dam material layer, the dam material layer having a plurality of corners, and inner walls of the corners being matched with and in contact with outer walls of the first corner guards in one-to-one correspondence; injecting an encapsulating material into a space enclosed by the display substrate, the first corner guards and the dam material layer; pressing the cover plate and assembling the cover plate with the display substrate, so that the encapsulating material is in contact with an inner wall of the dam material layer and inner walls of the first corner guards; curing the dam material layer to obtain a dam; and curing the encapsulating material to obtain a filling layer.

In some embodiments, forming the reinforcing layer further includes: forming a plurality of second corner guards, the second corner guards being distributed around the dam material layer at intervals; and being arranged on outer sides of the corners in one-to-one correspondence.

In some embodiments, forming the reinforcing layer in the peripheral area, includes: forming the first corner guards and the second corner guards through a single patterning process.

In yet another aspect; a display device is provided. The display device includes the display panel in any one of the above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments now are described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the exemplary embodiments may be implemented in various forms, and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art. Same reference numbers in the drawings represent same or similar structures, and thus their detail description will be omitted. In addition, the companying drawings are only schematic illustrations, and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Although relative terms such as “upper” and “lower” are used in the description to describe a relative relationship between one marked component and another marked component, these terms are used in the description only for convenience, for example, with reference to a direction of an example in the drawings. It will be understood that, if a marked device is turned over so that it is turned upside down, a component described as “upper” will become a “lower” component. When a certain structure is “on” the other structure, it may mean that the certain structure is integrally formed on the other structure, or the certain structure is “directly” disposed on the other structure, or the certain structure is “indirectly” disposed on the other structure through another structure.

The terms such as “a,” “an,” “the,” “said” and “at least one” are used to indicate the presence of one or more elements/components. The terms such as “comprising” and “having” are used to indicate an open inclusive meaning and refer to that there may be additional elements/components other than the listed elements/components. The terms such as “first” and “second” are used merely as labels, and are not limitations on a number of objects.

At present, there are many methods for encapsulating a display panel, and a common one is dam & fill encapsulation. However, bubbles are often generated at corner positions after the encapsulation is completed, which affects the encapsulation effect. In addition, in processes of transportation and use, cracking is easy to generate at the corner positions, which results in a failure of the encapsulation. It will be noted herein that, the above information disclosed is merely for enhancing the understanding of the background of the present disclosure, and therefore, it may contain information that does not constitute the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Based on this, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display panel100. As shown inFIGS.1and2, the display panel100includes a display substrate1, a cover plate2, a reinforcing layer3, a dam4, and a filling layer5. The display substrate1has a display area A and a peripheral area B around the display area A. The cover plate2is assembled with the display substrate1.

The reinforcing layer3is disposed in the peripheral area B, and is located between the display substrate1and the cover plate2. The reinforcing layer3includes a plurality of first corner guards31, and the first corner guards31are distributed around the display area A at intervals.

The dam4is disposed in the peripheral area B, and is located between the display substrate1and the cover plate2, The dam4is of a closed loop structure, and has a plurality of corners41. The first corner guards31are located in a region enclosed by the dam4, and inner walls of the corners41are matched with and in contact with outer walls of the first corner guards31in one-to-one correspondence.

The filling layer5is filled in a space enclosed by the display substrate1, the cover plate2, the first corner guards31and the dam4. The filling layer5is in contact with inner walls of the first corner guards31.

In this way, the dam4may be supported by the first corner guards31of the reinforcing layer3from inner sides, which improves strengths at corner positions of an encapsulation region, and thus avoids cracking. For example, for a flexible display panel, corners may be prevented from cracking when the flexible display panel is deformed, thereby improving a reliability of a product. Moreover, the first corner guards31may fill spaces at inner sides of the corners41of the dam4, and the filling layer5is in contact with the inner walls of the first corner guards31, which may prevent the generation of bubbles due to the inability of the filling layer5to fill spaces at the corners41of the dam4, and ensure the encapsulation effect. In addition, in practical applications, the filling layer5may further be matched with and in contact with the inner walls of the first corner guards31, so that the spaces at the corners41of the dam4may be filled better, which is beneficial to further preventing the generation of the bubbles and improving the encapsulation effect.

Various parts of the display panel in some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below.

As shown inFIGS.1to4, the display substrate1has the display area A and the peripheral area B, and the peripheral area B is a loop-shaped area around the display area A. The display substrate1includes a base11and a light-emitting device layer12on the base11.

A material of the base11may be glass, quartz, plastic, metal, etc., and the material thereof may be a hard or flexible material, which is not specifically limited herein.

The light-emitting device layer12is located in the display area A, and includes a plurality of light-emitting devices arranged in an array. The light-emitting devices may be used for displaying an image. For example, the light-emitting devices may be OLEO light-emitting devices, and the display substrate1may be an OLED display substrate.

As shown inFIG.1, the cover plate2is assembled with the display substrate1. An orthographic projection of the cover plate2on the display substrate1covers the display area A and the peripheral area B. Moreover, a material of the cover plate2may be a transparent material such as glass, quartz, or plastic, which will not be enumerated one by one herein.

As shown inFIGS.1to4, the reinforcing layer3is disposed in the peripheral area B, and is located between the display substrate1and the cover plate2. The reinforcing layer3may be arranged around the display area A, and includes the plurality of first corner guards31, As shown inFIG.2, the number of the first corner guards31may be the same as the number of the corners41of the dam4.

The first corner guard31may be in a curved shape, and the corner41may be in an arc shape. For example, referring toFIGS.2and4, the first corner guard31includes a first curved portion311, and radians of the first curved portion311is the same as radians of the corner41. The first corner guards31are distributed around the display area A at intervals, and are located in the region enclosed by the dam4. The outer walls of the first corner guards31may be matched with and in contact with the inner walls of the corners41in one-to-one correspondence, so that the spaces at the inner sides of the corners41are filled to some extent, and the corners41are supported, so as to prevent deformation.

In some examples, as shown inFIGS.2and4, the first corner guard31includes the first curved portion311and first protrusion(s)312.

Both the first curved portion311and the corner41are in arc shapes, and have the same radians, so as to enable an outer wall of the first curved portion311to be matched with and in contact with the inner wall of the corner41.

The first protrusion(s)312are disposed on an inner wall of the first curved portion311, and protrude in a direction facing away from the first curved portion311. The first protrusion312(s) may be located on at least one end of the first curved portion311. That is, at least one end of the first curved portion311is provided with a first protrusion312, In this way, a stress on the first corner guard31may be released through the first protrusion(s)312, thereby preventing the corner41from being over-stressed.

For example, as shown inFIGS.2and4, the number of the first protrusion(s)312may be two. The two first protrusions312are disposed on two ends of the first curved portion311, respectively, and protrude from the inner wall of the first curved portion311in two directions that are perpendicular to each other, respectively.

Based on this, for example, the two first protrusions312are of a same shape and of a same size. In this way, the two ends of the first curved portion311may be more uniformly stressed.

In addition, the two first protrusions312may further be axisymmetric, so as to maintain a stress balance.

For example, as shown inFIG.4, a height h1of the first protrusion312is not less than one third of a width d1of the first curved portion311, and is not greater than a half of the width d1of the first curved portion311. As shown inFIG.4, the height h1of the first protrusion312is a length of the first protrusion312in a direction facing away from the inner wall of the first curved portion311. The width d1of the first curved portion311is a minimum distance between the inner wall and the outer wall of the first curved portion311.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIGS.1and2, the dam4is disposed in the peripheral area B, and is located between the display substrate1and the cover plate2. The dam4is of the closed loop structure, and has the plurality of arc-shaped corners41. A portion of the dam4between two adjacent corners41is of a linear structure.

The radians of any corner41is the same as the radians of the first corner guard31, and the first corner guards31are located within the dam4. The inner walls of the corners41are matched with and in contact with the outer walls of the first corner guards31in one-to-one correspondence, so that spaces at the corners41are filled and the corners41are supported by the first corner guards31, which prevents the dam4from cracking due to an excessive stress.

A material of the dam4may be a photoresist such as an ultraviolet curing resin adhesive, and may also be a thermosetting adhesive such as a thermosetting resin adhesive. For example, the material of the dam4may include one or more of homopolymer or copolymer of monomers (such as epoxy resin, glycidyl acrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, methyl polyacrylate 6, 7-epoxy heptyl ester, and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), melamine formaldehyde resin, unsaturated polyester resin, silicone resin, and furan resin. Of course, the material may also include other materials. A viscosity of the dam4before curing may be 100,000 mPa·s to 400,000 mPa·s.

A width of the dam4, i.e., a minimum distance between an inner wall and an outer wall of the dam4, may be 1 mm to 3 mm. A thickness of the dam4may be 10 μm to 100 μm.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, the filling layer5may be filled in the space enclosed by the display substrate1, the cover plate2, the first corner guards31and the dam4. The filling layer5is matched with and in contact with the inner walls of the first corner guards31. Since the first corner guards31fill spaces at the corners41of the dam4to some extent, the bubbles due to the inability of the filling layer5to completely fill the spaces at the corners41may be prevented, and the encapsulation effect is ensured.

A material of the filling layer5may be a resin adhesive, and a specific material may be referred to the material of the dam4, which will not be described in detail herein. In addition, a viscosity of the filling layer5before curing may be 100 mPa·s to 2,000 mPa·s. A thickness of the filling layer5may be the same as the thickness of the dam4.

In order to further prevent the cracking at the corner positions of the encapsulation region, and to improve a strength of the dam4, as shown inFIGS.1to4, the reinforcing layer3may further include a plurality of second corner guards32. The second corner guard32is in a curved shape, and are distributed around the dam4at intervals. The second corner guards32are arranged on outer sides of the corners41in one-to-one correspondence. That is, the second corner guard32protrudes towards a direction facing away from a corresponding corner41, so that deformations of the corners41may be restricted by the second corner guards32form an outer side of the dam4, which further prevents the cracking at the corner positions of the encapsulation region.

Radians of the second corner guard32may be equal to or greater than the radians of the corner41. For example, the radians of the second corner guard32are greater than the radians of the corner41, and an inner wall of the second corner guard32and an outer wall of a corresponding corner41have a gap therebetween (e.g., the gap may be 20 μm to 50 μm). In this way, after the dam4is deformed to some extent, the second corner guard32is in contact with the dam4, and supports the dam4, so as to adapt to a deformation requirement of a flexible display panel. Of course, the inner wall of the second corner guard32may also be in contact with the outer wall of the corresponding corner41.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.4, the second corner guard32includes a second curved portion321and second protrusion(s)322.

The second curved portion321is of a curved structure, and the corner41is in the arc shape. Radians of the second curved portion321are not less than the radians of the corner41, so as to be arranged on the outer side of the corner41. For example, in a case where a central angle corresponding to the corner is 90 degrees, a central angle corresponding to the second curved portion321may be set to be greater than 90 degrees.

The second protrusion(s)322are disposed on an outer wall of the second curved portion321, and protrude in a direction facing away from the second curved portion321. The second protrusion(s)322are located on at least one end of the second curved portion321. That is, at least one end of the second curved portion321is provided with a second protrusion322. In this way, a stress on the second corner guard32may be released through the second protrusion(s)322, thereby preventing the corner41from being over-stressed.

For example, the number of the second protrusion(s)322is two, and the two second protrusions322are disposed on two ends of the second curved portion321, respectively, and protrude from the outer wall of the second curved portion321in two directions that are perpendicular to each other, respectively.

For example, the two second protrusions322are of a same shape and of a same size. In this way, the two ends of the second curved portion321may be more uniformly stressed.

In addition, the two second protrusions322may further be axisymmetric, so as to maintain a stress balance.

For example, as shown inFIG.4, a height h2of the second protrusion322is not less than one third of a width d2of the second curved portion321, and is not greater than a half of the width d2of the second curved portion321. As shown inFIG.4, the height112of the second protrusion322is a length of the second protrusion322in a direction facing away from an inner wall of the second curved portion321. The width d2of the second curved portion321is a minimum distance between the inner wall and the outer wall of the second curved portion321.

As shown inFIG.2, solid arrows inFIG.2show stresses on the first corner guard31and the second corner guard32, and outlined arrows show directions in which the first corner guard31and the second corner guard32release the stresses.

A material of the reinforcing layer3may be a photoresist such as an ultraviolet curing resin adhesive, which may be formed on the display substrate1through a photoetching process. For example, both the first corner guard31and the second corner guard32are made of the photoresist material, and the first curved portion311and the first protrusion(s)312of a same first corner guard31are of an integral structure, and the second curved portion321and the second protrusion(s)322of a same second corner guard32are of an integral structure. When the reinforcing layer3is formed, the first corner guards31and the second corner guards32may be formed through a single patterning process.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a manufacturing method of a display panel. The display panel may be the display panel100described above, and specific structure thereof will not be repeated herein. As shown inFIG.5, the manufacturing method may include S110to S150.

In S110, a display substrate and a cover plate are provided. The display substrate has a display area and a peripheral area around the display area.

In S120, a reinforcing layer is formed in the peripheral area. The reinforcing layer includes a plurality of first corner guards, and the first corner guards are distributed around the display area at intervals.

In S130, a dam material layer in a closed loop shape is formed in the peripheral area. The first corner guards are located within the dam material layer. The dam material layer has a plurality of corners, and inner walls of the corners are matched with and in contact with outer walls of the first corner guards in one-to-one correspondence.

In S140, an encapsulating material is injected into a space enclosed by the display substrate, the first corner guards, and the dam material layer.

In S150, the cover plate is pressed and assembled with the display substrate, so that the encapsulating material is in contact with an inner wall of the dam material layer and inner walls of the first corner guards.

In S160, the dam material layer is cured to obtain a dam, and the encapsulating material is cured to obtain a filling layer.

Beneficial effects of the manufacturing method in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be referred to the beneficial effects of the display panel, which will not be repeated herein.

Various steps of the manufacturing method are described below.

In S110, structures of the display substrate1and the cover plate2have been described in the embodiments of the display panel, which will not be described in detail herein.

In S120, as shown inFIGS.3and4, the reinforcing layer3may be formed on the display substrate1according to a pre-determined position of the reinforcing layer3. A specific structure of the reinforcing layer3has been described in the embodiments of the display panel, which will not be described in detail herein. The reinforcing layer3may be made of a same material, and thus may be formed through a single patterning process. For example, materials of the first corner guard31and the second corner guard32are a same photoresist, and therefore, forming the reinforcing layer3in the peripheral area B, i.e., S120, includes:

forming the first corner guards and the second corner guards through a single patterning process.

It will be noted that, when the reinforcing layer3is formed, a space required by the dam material layer4may be reserved. For example, a channel between the first corner guard31and the second corner guard32that correspond to a same corner41is reserved for allowing the dam material layer4to pass through.

In S130, as shown inFIGS.1and2, a process of forming the dam material layer depends on a material thereof. For example, if the material of the dam material layer is a photoresist, a photoresist layer may be coated on the display substrate1, and then the dam material layer is obtained through an exposure and a development.

In S140, as shown inFIGS.1and2, the encapsulating material may be coated in a region surrounded by the dam material layer on the display substrate1. An amount of the encapsulating material is limited to that a space enclosed by the encapsulating material is able to be filled up.

In S150, as shown inFIG.1, when the cover plate2is pressed and assembled with the display substrate1, the encapsulating material may be pressed, so that the encapsulating material is matched with and in contact with the inner wall of the dam material layer and surfaces of the first corner guards31facing away from the dam material layer.

In S160, as shown inFIG.1, the curing of the dam material layer and the curing of the encapsulating material depend on their materials. For example, through light or heating, the dam material layer is cured to be the dam4, and the encapsulating material is cured to be the filling layer5. Specific structures of the dam and the filling layer5have been described in the embodiments of the display panel, which will not be described in detail herein.

It will be noted that, although the various steps of the method are described in a specific order in the accompanying drawings, this does not require or imply that these steps must be performed according to the specific order, or that all of the steps as shown must be performed to achieve a desired result. Additionally or optionally, some steps may be omitted, multiple steps may be combined into one step for execution, and/or one step may be resolved into multiple steps for execution.

Embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a display device that includes the display panel described above, A structure of the display panel may be referred to the structure in the embodiments of the display panel described above, which will not be repeated herein. Since the display panel in the above embodiments is adopted in the display device, the display panel and the display device have the same beneficial effects. The display device may be used in a terminal device such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, an electronic watch, which will not be enumerated one by one herein.