Display panel, manufacturing method thereof and display device

A display panel, a manufacturing method thereof and a display device are provided. A thin film transistor layer disposed on a substrate includes a first metal trace at least disposed in a wire replacement region. An encapsulation layer includes an inorganic encapsulation sub-layer, which is disposed on one side of the thin film transistor layer away from the substrate and stacked with an inorganic spacer layer. A touch metal layer includes a touch trace, which is at least disposed in the wire replacement region and electrically connected to the first metal trace. Both the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and the inorganic spacer layer are not overlapped with the wire replacement region.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a national phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT Application No. PCT/CN2021/136856 filed Dec. 9, 2021, which claims priority to Chinese Application No. 202111408924.1 filed Nov. 25, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This disclosure relates to a technical field of a display, and more particularly to a display panel and a manufacturing method thereof, and a display device having the display panel.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

In an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display device, a touch display device provides a touch-based user interface, through which the user can intuitively, conveniently and directly input data or instructions to the device without using a conventional data entry system, such as a button, a keyboard or a mouse. Therefore, the touch display device needs to sense a touch executed by the user and precisely determine the touch coordinates. The touch sensing technologies may be divided into a resistive type, a capacitive type, an optical type and a sonic type. At present, capacitive touch panels are adopted in most OLED display screens on the market. Induced coordinates can be detected according to a capacitance change generated by a combination of electrostatic charges of a finger and a sensing unit.

The direct on touch (DOT) technology has gradually replaced the add-on technology and become a most popular process at present. DOT represents that the touch panel is embedded into a film layer above a substrate. The currently common technology is to prepare a TP layer above an encapsulation layer. Compared with the add-on touch structure, the DOT structure becomes lighter and thinner and has the higher transmittance, and can be applied to a flexible display substrate. At present, the DOT technologies can be classified into self capacitance (SDOT) and mutual capacitance (MDOT), wherein SDOT is to detect the change of the self capacitance of each sensing unit with respect to GND, while the MDOT is to detect the capacitance formed between two cross sensing blocks.

In the touch panel, a touch electrode is connected to a bezel region of the panel through a touch trace, and the touch trace passing through a wiring replacement hole is connected to a lower metal layer, and is electrically connected to a bonding terminal through the lower metal layer. However, an inorganic layer in the encapsulation layer extends to a lower bezel region in a depositing process, and has a thickness getting thinner. So, in order to prevent the inorganic layer from being reserved in the wiring replacement hole of the touch trace in the related technology, the wiring replacement hole is disposed outside a cover range of the inorganic layer, so that the wiring replacement hole is disposed in a direction away from a display region, and the bezel width of the touch panel gets larger. This is not advantageous to the narrow bezel requirement of the touch panel.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problems

An embodiment of this disclosure provides a display panel, a manufacturing method thereof and a display device capable of reducing a distance between a wire replacement region and a display region and reducing a bezel width of the display panel.

Technical Solutions

An embodiment of this disclosure provides a display panel including a display region and a non-display region disposed on at least one side of the display region, the non-display region including a wire replacement region;wherein the display panel further includes:a substrate;a thin film transistor layer, which is disposed on the substrate and includes a first metal layer, wherein the first metal layer includes a first metal trace at least disposed in the wire replacement region;an encapsulation layer, which is disposed on one side of the thin film transistor layer away from the substrate, and includes an inorganic encapsulation sub-layer;an inorganic spacer layer, wherein the inorganic spacer layer and the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer are stacked on the one side of the thin film transistor layer away from the substrate; anda touch metal layer, which is disposed on the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and one side of the inorganic spacer layer away from the substrate, and includes a touch trace at least disposed in the wire replacement region, wherein the touch trace is electrically connected to the first metal trace in the wire replacement region;wherein both the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and the inorganic spacer layer do not overlap with the wire replacement region.

In one embodiment of this disclosure, the display panel further includes a bank structure, which is disposed on the substrate and in the non-display region and disposed between the wire replacement region and the display region; wherein both the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and the inorganic spacer layer covers the bank structure, and extend from the bank structure in a direction away from the display region.

In one embodiment of this disclosure, on one side of the bank structure away from the display region, a thickness of the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer close to the bank structure is greater than a thickness of the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer away from the bank structure.

In one embodiment of this disclosure, boundaries of both the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and the inorganic spacer layer in the non-display region are disposed between the bank structure and the wire replacement region.

In one embodiment of this disclosure, the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer is provided with a first opening in the wire replacement region; and the inorganic spacer layer is provided with a second opening corresponding to the first opening, and the touch trace is electrically connected to the first metal trace through the first opening and the second opening.

In one embodiment of this disclosure, the inorganic spacer layer is further disposed on a sidewall of the first opening, and a size of the second opening is less than a size of the first opening.

In one embodiment of this disclosure, the thin film transistor layer is provided with a third opening in the wire replacement region, the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer is further disposed on a sidewall of the third opening, a size of the first opening is less than a size of the third opening, and the touch trace is electrically connected to the first metal trace through the first opening, the second opening and the third opening.

In one embodiment of this disclosure, the encapsulation layer includes a first inorganic encapsulation sub-layer, an organic encapsulation sub-layer and a second inorganic encapsulation sub-layer arranged in a stacked manner, and the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer includes the first inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and the second inorganic encapsulation sub-layer.

According to the above-mentioned objectives of this disclosure, a manufacturing method of a display panel is provided. The display panel includes a display region and a non-display region disposed on at least one side of the display region, and the non-display region includes a wire replacement region; wherein the manufacturing method of the display panel includes steps of:providing a substrate;forming a thin film transistor layer on the substrate, wherein the thin film transistor layer includes a first metal layer, and the first metal layer includes a first metal trace at least formed in the wire replacement region;forming an encapsulation layer and an inorganic spacer layer on one side of the thin film transistor layer away from the substrate, wherein the encapsulation layer includes an inorganic encapsulation sub-layer stacked with the inorganic spacer layer;at least removing the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and the inorganic spacer layer disposed in the wire replacement region to expose the first metal trace; andforming a touch metal layer on the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and one side of the inorganic spacer layer away from the substrate, wherein the touch metal layer includes a touch trace at least formed in the wire replacement region, and the touch trace is electrically connected to the first metal trace in the wire replacement region.

In one embodiment of this disclosure, the step of forming the encapsulation layer and the inorganic spacer layer on the one side of the thin film transistor layer away from the substrate further includes:forming a third opening in the thin film transistor layer in the wire replacement region to expose the first metal trace; andforming the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and the inorganic spacer layer stacked on the thin film transistor layer, wherein the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and the inorganic spacer layer cover a sidewall and a bottom of the third opening.

In one embodiment of this disclosure, the step of at least removing the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and the inorganic spacer layer in the wire replacement region further includes: at least removing the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and the inorganic spacer layer on the bottom of the third opening to expose the first metal trace.

According to the above-mentioned objectives of this disclosure, a display device is provided. The display device includes a main device body and a display panel. The display panel includes a display region and a non-display region disposed on at least one side of the display region. The non-display region includes a wire replacement region; wherein the display panel further includes:a substrate;a thin film transistor layer, which is disposed on the substrate and includes a first metal layer, wherein the first metal layer includes a first metal trace at least disposed in the wire replacement region;an encapsulation layer, which is disposed on one side of the thin film transistor layer away from the substrate, and includes an inorganic encapsulation sub-layer;an inorganic spacer layer, wherein the inorganic spacer layer and the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer are stacked on the one side of the thin film transistor layer away from the substrate; anda touch metal layer, which is disposed on the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and one side of the inorganic spacer layer away from the substrate, and includes a touch trace at least disposed in the wire replacement region, wherein the touch trace is electrically connected to the first metal trace in the wire replacement region;wherein both the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and the inorganic spacer layer do not overlap with the wire replacement region.

In one embodiment of this disclosure, the display panel further includes a bank structure, which is disposed on the substrate and in the non-display region and disposed between the wire replacement region and the display region; wherein both the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and the inorganic spacer layer cover the bank structure, and extend from the bank structure in a direction away from the display region.

In one embodiment of this disclosure, on one side of the bank structure away from the display region, a thickness of the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer close to the bank structure is greater than a thickness of the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer away from the bank structure.

In one embodiment of this disclosure, boundaries of both the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and the inorganic spacer layer in the non-display region are disposed between the bank structure and the wire replacement region.

In one embodiment of this disclosure, the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer is provided with a first opening in the wire replacement region; and the inorganic spacer layer is provided with a second opening corresponding to the first opening, and the touch trace is electrically connected to the first metal trace through the first opening and the second opening.

In one embodiment of this disclosure, the inorganic spacer layer is further disposed on a sidewall of the first opening, and a size of the second opening is less than a size of the first opening.

In one embodiment of this disclosure, the thin film transistor layer is provided with a third opening in the wire replacement region, the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer is further disposed on a sidewall of the third opening, a size of the first opening is less than a size of the third opening, and the touch trace is electrically connected to the first metal trace through the first opening, the second opening and the third opening.

In one embodiment of this disclosure, the encapsulation layer includes a first inorganic encapsulation sub-layer, an organic encapsulation sub-layer and a second inorganic encapsulation sub-layer arranged in a stacked manner, and the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer includes the first inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and the second inorganic encapsulation sub-layer.

In one embodiment of this disclosure, a material of the inorganic spacer layer includes at least one of silicon oxide or silicon nitride.

Beneficial Effects

Compared to the existing technology, this disclosure is configured to form the inorganic spacer layer on one side of the encapsulation layer, so that a thickness of the film layer above the first metal trace can be increased as compared with the prior art, wherein the thickness thereof includes a thickness of the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and a thickness of the inorganic spacer layer. In addition, a material of the inorganic spacer layer is an inorganic material, so that both the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and the inorganic spacer layer in the wire replacement region can be etched to form openings in the manufacturing process, and the wire replacing and bridging between the touch trace and the first metal trace in the wire replacement region can be implemented. Thus, the position of the wire replacement region can be configured to be closer to the display region according to this disclosure without the need of considering the phenomenon of the poor contact caused by the reason that the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer extends into the wire replacement region, and thus has the thickness that is too thin to be effectively etched. Further, the distance between the wire replacement region and the display region is decreased, a bezel width of the display panel is decreased, and a narrow bezel display panel can be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described in the following with reference to the drawings of the embodiments of this disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this disclosure, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative works are deemed as falling within the scope of this disclosure.

The following disclosure provides many different implementations or examples for realizing different structures of this disclosure. In order to simplify the contents of this disclosure, the components and configurations of specific examples are described hereinbelow. Of course, they are only examples, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. In addition, reference digits and/or reference characters may be repeated in different examples of this disclosure, and such the repetition is for the purpose of simplification and clarity, and does not in itself indicate the relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. In addition, this disclosure provides examples of various specific processes and materials, but those of ordinary skill in the art may be aware of the application of other processes and/or the use of other materials.

An embodiment of this disclosure provides a display panel. Referring toFIG.1, the display panel includes a display region101and a non-display region102disposed on at least one side of the display region101, and the non-display region102includes a wire replacement region1021.

The display panel further includes a substrate10, a thin film transistor layer20, an encapsulation layer30, an inorganic spacer layer40and a touch metal layer50.

The thin film transistor layer20is disposed on the substrate10and includes a first metal layer21. The first metal layer21includes a first metal trace211at least disposed in the wire replacement region1021. The encapsulation layer30is disposed on one side of the thin film transistor layer20away from the substrate10, and includes an inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31. The inorganic spacer layer40and the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31are stacked on one side of the thin film transistor layer20away from the substrate10. The touch metal layer50is disposed on the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31and one side of the inorganic spacer layer40away from the substrate10, and includes a touch trace51at least disposed in the wire replacement region1021. The touch trace51is electrically connected to the first metal trace211in the wire replacement region1021.

Further, both the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31and the inorganic spacer layer40do not overlap with the wire replacement region1021.

In an implementation application process, the embodiment of this disclosure is configured to provide the inorganic spacer layer40stacked with the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31in the display panel, so that the thickness of the inorganic film layer in the wire replacement region1021can be increased, that the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31and the inorganic spacer layer40disposed in the wire replacement region1021can be synchronously removed in the manufacturing process, and that the wire replacing and bridging between the touch trace51and the first metal trace211in the wire replacement region1021can be implemented. Thus, the wire replacement region1021can be disposed at a position closer to the display region101according to this disclosure without the need of considering the phenomenon of the poor contact caused by the reason that the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31extends into the wire replacement region1021, and thus has the thickness that is too thin to be effectively etched. Further, the distance between the wire replacement region1021and the display region101is decreased, a bezel width of the display panel is decreased, and a narrow bezel display panel can be implemented.

Specifically, the structure of the display panel provided by the embodiment of this disclosure will be described in detail according to the following specific embodiment.

Referring toFIGS.1and2, the display panel in one embodiment of this disclosure includes the display region101and the non-display region102. It is to be described that the non-display region102located at the bottom end of the display panel is taken as an example for explanation in the embodiment of this disclosure. In addition, the non-display region102includes the wire replacement region1021and a bending bonding region (not shown in the drawing) disposed on one side of the wire replacement region1021away from the display region101.

The display panel further includes the substrate10, the thin film transistor layer20disposed on the substrate10, the encapsulation layer30disposed on the thin film transistor layer20, the inorganic spacer layer40disposed on the encapsulation layer30and the touch metal layer50disposed on the inorganic spacer layer40.

The thin film transistor layer20includes a thin film transistor device and an insulating layer covering the thin film transistor device, and may specifically include the first metal layer21, a second metal layer22and an insulating layer23. Further, the first metal layer21may include devices such as a source, a drain and a data line and the like, the second metal layer22may include devices such as a gate, a gate line and the like, and the insulating layer23may include insulating sub-layers located between the above-mentioned devices.

It is to be described that in the cross-section structure diagram of the display panel provided by the embodiment of this disclosure, only the structure of one side of the display panel near the non-display region is shown, and the drawing may show that the thin film transistor layer20includes the above-mentioned film layer but is not limited to the above-mentioned film layer. In addition, the stacking configuration of the first metal layer21, the second metal layer22and the insulating layer23in the drawing only corresponds to the structure near one side of the non-display region102, and the stacking configuration of the first metal layer21, the second metal layer22and the insulating layer23in the display region101may be configured according to the thin film transistor array structure in the conventional OLED display panel, so no restriction is made thereto.

In this embodiment, the first metal layer21includes the source, the drain, the data line and the like disposed in the display region101, and the first metal layer21further includes the first metal trace211at least disposed in the wire replacement region1021.

In addition, the thin film transistor layer20further includes an interlayer insulating layer70disposed on one side of the first metal layer21away from the substrate10. The interlayer insulating layer70has: a part, which is disposed in the display region101and may be used as a planarization layer; an edge, which is disposed in the non-display region102and may also be used as a part of elevating a bank structure24; and another part, which is disposed in the wire replacement region1021and may also function as an insulating layer for covering the first metal trace211.

It is to be described that the display panel further includes a pixel definition layer (not shown in the drawing) disposed on the interlayer insulating layer70, and the pixel definition layer is formed with multiple pixel openings in the display region101, wherein each pixel opening is formed with a light-emitting unit. The pixel definition layer is further stacked with the interlayer insulating layer70in the non-display region102to form the bank structure24, and the bank structure24is disposed between the display region101and the wire replacement region1021.

Specifically, the bank structure24includes a first bank241disposed near one side of the display region101, and a second bank242disposed on one side of the first bank241away from the display region101.

The encapsulation layer30is disposed on one side of the thin film transistor layer20away from the substrate10, and includes the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31. It is to be described that the encapsulation layer30provided by the embodiment of this disclosure may be a stacked structure of an organic layer and an inorganic layer, or a stacked structure of an inorganic layer, an organic layer and an inorganic layer. For example, the encapsulation layer30includes the first inorganic encapsulation sub-layer, the organic encapsulation sub-layer and the second inorganic encapsulation sub-layer, wherein the organic encapsulation sub-layer is blocked by the bank structure24, and the first inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and the second inorganic encapsulation sub-layer extend to the non-display region102to enhance the package effect. The inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31in the embodiment of this disclosure includes the first inorganic encapsulation sub-layer and the second inorganic encapsulation sub-layer. In the drawings provided by the embodiment of this disclosure, only the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31extending to an edge of the display region101and in the non-display region102is shown as an example for explanation.

Further, on one side of the bank structure24away from the display region101, a thickness of the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31close to the bank structure24is greater than a thickness of the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31away from the bank structure24.

Specifically, the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31includes a first inorganic encapsulation part311located in the display region101, and a second inorganic encapsulation part312connected to the first inorganic encapsulation part311and located on one side of the bank structure24away from the display region101. Specifically, the first inorganic encapsulation part311may cover the display region101and extend to one side of the bank structure24away from the display region101, and the second inorganic encapsulation part312is connected to the first inorganic encapsulation part311, and extends toward one side of the bank structure24away from the display region101to cover the wire replacement region1021. Because the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31is frequently prepared by using the chemical vapor deposition in the manufacturing process, the thickness of the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31in the marginal region decreases slowly. That is, the thickness of the second inorganic encapsulation part312on one side of the bank structure24away from the display region101becomes thinner. That is, the thickness of the second inorganic encapsulation part312is less than the thickness of the first inorganic encapsulation part311.

The inorganic spacer layer40is disposed on one side of the encapsulation layer30away from the substrate10, and the inorganic spacer layer40and the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31are stacked. Specifically, the inorganic spacer layer40and the second inorganic encapsulation part312are stacked in the non-display region102, and disposed on the interlayer insulating layer70.

Further, the inorganic spacer layer40includes a first inorganic spacer portion401correspondingly disposed on the first inorganic encapsulation part311, and a second inorganic spacer portion402correspondingly disposed on the second inorganic encapsulation part312.

Optionally, materials of the inorganic spacer layer40and the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31may include at least one of silicon oxide or silicon nitride.

In this embodiment, the display panel further includes openings disposed in the wire replacement region1021, the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31is provided with a first opening61in the wire replacement region1021, the inorganic spacer layer40is provided with a second opening62in the wire replacement region1021, and the thin film transistor layer20is provided with a third opening63in the wire replacement region1021.

Specifically, the second inorganic encapsulation part312is provided with the first opening61in the wire replacement region1021, the second inorganic spacer portion402is provided with the second opening62in the wire replacement region1021, and the interlayer insulating layer70is provided with the third opening63in the wire replacement region1021to expose the first metal trace211at least disposed in the wire replacement region1021.

The inorganic spacer layer40is further disposed on a sidewall of the first opening61, and a size of the second opening62is less than a size of the first opening61. The inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31is further disposed on a sidewall of the third opening63, and the size of the first opening61is less than a size of the third opening63.

The display panel provided by the embodiment of this disclosure may be used in a touch display panel. That is, the touch metal layer50includes multiple touch electrodes located in the display region101and separately distributed, and touch traces51connected to the touch electrodes. The touch trace51extends to the wire replacement region1021and passes through the first opening61, the second opening62and the third opening63to bridge with the first metal trace211. That is, wire replacement of each touch electrode is implemented in the wire replacement region1021through the touch trace51, each touch electrode is electrically connected to the first metal trace211, and the first metal trace211extends to the bending bonding region to implement the bonding connection with a circuit board and to implement the transmission of the electrical signal from the circuit board to each touch electrode through the first metal trace211and the touch trace51.

As mentioned hereinabove, the embodiment of this disclosure is configured to form the inorganic spacer layer40on one side of the encapsulation layer30away from the substrate to increase the thickness of the inorganic film layer on the interlayer insulating layer70and in the wire replacement region1021, so that it is beneficial to the removing of the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31and the inorganic spacer layer40in the wire replacement region1021at a time in the etching process, and that the wire replacing and bridging between the touch trace51and the first metal trace211can be implemented through the wire replacement region1021. Accordingly, this disclosure can be configured such that the wire replacement region1021is located at a position closer to the display region101without the need of considering the phenomenon of the poor contact caused by the reason that the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31extends into the wire replacement region1021, and thus has the thickness that is too thin to be effectively etched. Further, the distance between the wire replacement region1021and the display region101can be decreased, a bezel width of the display panel can be decreased, and a narrow bezel display panel can be implemented.

Referring toFIGS.3and4, the difference between another embodiment and the above-mentioned embodiment resides in the placement range of the wire replacement region1021. In this embodiment, boundaries of both the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31and the inorganic spacer layer40in the non-display region102are disposed between the bank structure24and the wire replacement region1021.

Specifically, the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31and the inorganic spacer layer40in the wire replacement region1021may be removed. Further, the thickness of the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31on one side of the bank structure24away from the display region101decreases slowly. In this embodiment, it is possible to remove a part of the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31, which is disposed on one side of the bank structure24away from the display region101and has a thinned thickness, and the inorganic spacer layer40corresponding to the part of the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31to expose a partial upper surface of the interlayer insulating layer70in the wire replacement region1021.

In this embodiment, the interlayer insulating layer70is provided with the third opening63located in the wire replacement region1021, and the touch trace51is electrically connected to the first metal trace211through the third opening63.

As mentioned hereinabove, the embodiment of this disclosure is configured to form the inorganic spacer layer40on one side of the encapsulation layer30away from the substrate to increase the thickness of the inorganic film layer on the interlayer insulating layer70and in the wire replacement region1021. Thus, it is beneficial to the removing of the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31and the inorganic spacer layer40in the wire replacement region1021at a time in the etching process, and wire replacing and bridging between the touch trace51and the first metal trace211can be implemented in the wire replacement region1021. Accordingly, this disclosure can be configured such that the wire replacement region1021is located at a position closer to the display region101without the need of considering the phenomenon of the poor contact caused by the reason that the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31extends into the wire replacement region1021, and thus has the thickness that is too thin to be effectively etched. Further, the distance between the wire replacement region1021and the display region101can be decreased, a bezel width of the display panel can be decreased, and a narrow bezel display panel can be implemented. In addition, the area of the inorganic film layer being removed is larger in this embodiment. Compared with the previous embodiment, the requirement on the etching accuracy is lower, and the thickness of the film layer in the non-display region102can be decreased. When the non-display region102of the display panel needs to be bent, the bending performance of the non-display region102of the display panel may be enhanced.

Referring toFIG.5, the difference between another embodiment and the first embodiment resides in that the inorganic spacer layer40is disposed on one side of the encapsulation layer30near the substrate10. That is, the inorganic spacer layer40is disposed between the encapsulation layer30and the interlayer insulating layer70.

In this embodiment, the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31is provided with a first opening61in the wire replacement region1021, the inorganic spacer layer40is provided with a second opening62in the wire replacement region1021, and the interlayer insulating layer70is provided with a third opening63in the wire replacement region1021.

The inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31is further disposed on a sidewall of the second opening62, and a size of the first opening61is less than a size of the second opening62. The inorganic spacer layer40is further disposed on a sidewall of the third opening63, and the size of the second opening62is less than a size of the third opening63.

As mentioned hereinabove, the embodiment of this disclosure is configured to form the inorganic spacer layer40on one side of the encapsulation layer30away from the substrate to increase the thickness of the inorganic film layer on the interlayer insulating layer70and in the wire replacement region1021, so that it is beneficial to the removing of the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31and the inorganic spacer layer40in the wire replacement region1021at a time in the etching process, and that the wire replacing and bridging between the touch trace51and the first metal trace211can be implemented through the wire replacement region1021. Accordingly, this disclosure can be configured such that the wire replacement region1021is located at a position closer the display region101without the need of considering the phenomenon of the poor contact caused by the reason that the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31extends into the wire replacement region1021, and thus has the thickness that is too thin to be effectively etched. Further, the distance between the wire replacement region1021and the display region101can be decreased, a bezel width of the display panel can be decreased, and a narrow bezel display panel can be implemented.

Referring toFIG.6, the difference between another embodiment and the second embodiment resides in that the inorganic spacer layer40is disposed on one side of the encapsulation layer30near the substrate10. That is, the inorganic spacer layer40is disposed between the encapsulation layer30and the interlayer insulating layer70.

In this embodiment, boundaries of both the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31and the inorganic spacer layer40in the non-display region102are disposed between the bank structure24and the wire replacement region1021.

As mentioned hereinabove, the embodiment of this disclosure is configured to form the inorganic spacer layer40on one side of the encapsulation layer30away from the substrate to increase the thickness of the inorganic film layer on the interlayer insulating layer70and in the wire replacement region1021, so that it is beneficial to the removing of the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31and the inorganic spacer layer40in the wire replacement region1021at a time in the etching process, and that the wire replacing and bridging between the touch trace51and the first metal trace211can be implemented through the wire replacement region1021. Accordingly, this disclosure can be configured such that the wire replacement region1021is located at a position closer the display region101without the need of considering the phenomenon of the poor contact caused by the reason that the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31extends into the wire replacement region1021, and thus has the thickness that is too thin to be effectively etched. Further, the distance between the wire replacement region1021and the display region101can be decreased, a bezel width of the display panel can be decreased, and a narrow bezel display panel can be implemented. In addition, the area of the inorganic film layer being removed is larger in this embodiment. Compared with the previous embodiment, the requirement on the etching accuracy is lower, and the thickness of the film layer in the non-display region102can be decreased. When the non-display region102of the display panel needs to be bent, the bending performance of the non-display region102of the display panel may be enhanced.

In addition, the embodiment of this disclosure further provides a manufacturing method of a display panel, and the display panel is one of the display panels mentioned in the above-mentioned embodiments. The display panel includes a display region101and a non-display region102disposed on at least one side of the display region101, and the non-display region102includes a wire replacement region1021. Referring toFIGS.1and7, the manufacturing method of the display panel includes the following steps S10to S50.

In the step S10, a substrate10is provided.

In the step S20, a thin film transistor layer20is formed on the substrate10, wherein the thin film transistor layer20includes a first metal layer21, and the first metal layer21includes a first metal trace211at least formed in the wire replacement region1021.

In the step S30, an encapsulation layer30and an inorganic spacer layer40are formed on one side of the thin film transistor layer20away from the substrate10, wherein the encapsulation layer30includes an inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31stacked with the inorganic spacer layer40.

In the step S40, the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31and the inorganic spacer layer40disposed in the wire replacement region1021are at least removed to expose the first metal trace211.

In the step S50, a touch metal layer50is formed on the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31and one side of the inorganic spacer layer40away from the substrate10, wherein the touch metal layer50includes a touch trace51at least formed in the wire replacement region1021, and the touch trace51is electrically connected to the first metal trace211in the wire replacement region1021.

Specifically, referring toFIGS.1,2,7and8ato8d, the manufacturing method of the display panel in one embodiment of this disclosure includes the following steps.

The thin film transistor layer20is formed on the substrate10, and includes the first metal layer21, the second metal layer22and the insulating layer23. Further, the first metal layer21may include devices such as a source, a drain and a data line and the like, the second metal layer22may include devices such as a gate, a gate line and the like, and the insulating layer23may include insulating sub-layers located between the above-mentioned devices.

It is to be described that in the cross-section structure diagram of the display panel provided by the embodiment of this disclosure, only the structure of one side of the display panel near the non-display region102is shown, and the drawing may show that the thin film transistor layer20includes the above-mentioned film layer but is not limited to the above-mentioned film layer. In addition, the stacking configuration of the first metal layer21, the second metal layer22and the insulating layer23in the drawing only corresponds to the structure near one side of the non-display region102, and the stacking configuration of the first metal layer21, the second metal layer22and the insulating layer23in the display region101may be configured according to the thin film transistor array structure in the conventional OLED display panel, so no restriction is made thereto.

In this embodiment, the first metal layer21includes the source, the drain, the data line and the like disposed in the display region101, and the first metal layer21further includes the first metal trace211disposed in the wire replacement region1021.

The thin film transistor layer20further includes an interlayer insulating layer70disposed on one side of the first metal layer21away from the substrate10, and a material of the interlayer insulating layer70includes an organic material. A part of the interlayer insulating layer70in the display region101may be used as a planarization layer, and may function as an insulating layer in the wire replacement region1021to cover the first metal trace211.

Thereafter, a pixel definition layer (not shown in the drawing) is formed on one side of the interlayer insulating layer70away from the substrate10, and the pixel definition layer is formed with multiple pixel openings in the display region101. Each pixel opening is formed with a light-emitting unit, and the pixel definition layer is further stacked with the interlayer insulating layer70in the non-display region102to form a bank structure24, which specifically includes a first bank241disposed near one side of the display region101and a second bank242disposed on one side of the first bank241away from the display region101.

Next, a third opening63is formed on a part of the interlayer insulating layer70and in the wire replacement region1021to expose a partial upper surface of the first metal trace211.

The encapsulation layer30is formed on one side of the interlayer insulating layer70away from the substrate10, and includes the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31. The inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31includes a first inorganic encapsulation part311located in the display region101, and a second inorganic encapsulation part312connected to the first inorganic encapsulation part311and located on one side of the bank structure24away from the display region101. Specifically, the first inorganic encapsulation part311may cover the display region101and extend to one side of the bank structure24away from the display region101, and the second inorganic encapsulation part312is connected to the first inorganic encapsulation part311, and extends toward one side of the bank structure24away from the display region101to cover the wire replacement region1021. Because the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31may be prepared by using the chemical vapor deposition, the thickness of the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31at the edge decreases, and the thickness of the second inorganic encapsulation part312is less than the thickness of the first inorganic encapsulation part311.

The second inorganic encapsulation part312further covers a bottom and a sidewall of the third opening63.

The inorganic spacer layer40is formed on one side of the encapsulation layer30away from the substrate10, and includes a first inorganic spacer portion401correspondingly disposed on the first inorganic encapsulation part311, and a second inorganic spacer portion402correspondingly disposed on the second inorganic encapsulation part312.

The second inorganic spacer portion402further covers the bottom and the sidewall of the third opening63. That is, the second inorganic spacer portion402covers the second inorganic encapsulation part312.

Optionally, a material of the inorganic spacer portion401/402includes at least one of silicon oxide or silicon nitride.

A photoresist81is coated on the inorganic spacer layer401/402with an opening corresponding to the third opening63being reserved on the photoresist81, and the second inorganic spacer portion402and the second inorganic encapsulation part312on the bottom of the third opening63are removed to form a first opening61in the second inorganic encapsulation part312and to form a second opening62in the second inorganic spacer portion402to expose a partial upper surface of the first metal trace211.

A touch metal layer50is formed on one side of the inorganic spacer layer40away from the substrate, and includes multiple touch electrodes located in the display region101and separately distributed, and touch traces51connected to the touch electrodes. The touch trace51extends to the wire replacement region1021, passes through the first opening61, the second opening62and the third opening63, and is electrically connected to the first metal trace211.

Referring toFIGS.3,4,7and9ato9d, the manufacturing method of the display panel in another embodiment of this disclosure includes the following steps.

The thin film transistor layer20is formed on the substrate10, and includes the first metal layer21, the second metal layer22and the insulating layer23. Further, the first metal layer21may include devices such as a source, a drain and a data line and the like, the second metal layer22may include devices such as a gate, a gate line and the like, and the insulating layer23may include insulating sub-layers located between the above-mentioned devices.

It is to be described that in the cross-section structure diagram of the display panel provided by the embodiment of this disclosure, only the structure of one side of the display panel near the non-display region is shown, and the drawing may show that the thin film transistor layer20includes the above-mentioned film layer but is not limited to the above-mentioned film layer. In addition, the stacking configuration of the first metal layer21, the second metal layer22and the insulating layer23in the drawing only corresponds to the structure near one side of the non-display region102, and the stacking configuration of the first metal layer21, the second metal layer22and the insulating layer23in the display region101may be configured according to the thin film transistor array structure in the conventional OLED display panel, so no restriction is made thereto.

In this embodiment, the first metal layer21includes the source, the drain, the data line and the like disposed in the display region101, and the first metal layer21further includes the first metal trace211disposed in the wire replacement region1021.

The thin film transistor layer20further includes the interlayer insulating layer70disposed on one side of the first metal layer21away from the substrate10, a material of the interlayer insulating layer70includes an organic material, and a part of the interlayer insulating layer70disposed in the display region101may be used as a planarization layer and may function as an insulating layer in the wire replacement region1021to cover the first metal trace211.

Thereafter, a pixel definition layer (not shown in the drawing) is formed on one side of the interlayer insulating layer70away from the substrate10, and the pixel definition layer is formed with multiple pixel openings in the display region101. Each pixel opening is formed with a light-emitting unit. The pixel definition layer is further stacked with the interlayer insulating layer70in the non-display region102to form the bank structure24, which specifically includes the first bank241disposed near one side of the display region101, and the second bank242disposed on one side of the first bank241away from the display region101.

Next, a third opening63is formed on a part of the interlayer insulating layer70and in the wire replacement region1021to expose a partial upper surface of the first metal trace211.

The encapsulation layer30is formed on one side of the interlayer insulating layer70away from the substrate10, and includes the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31. The inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31includes a first inorganic encapsulation part311located in the display region101, and a second inorganic encapsulation part312connected to the first inorganic encapsulation part311and located on one side of the bank structure24away from the display region101. Specifically, the first inorganic encapsulation part311may cover the display region101and extend to one side of the bank structure24away from the display region101, and the second inorganic encapsulation part312is connected to the first inorganic encapsulation part311and extends toward one side of the bank structure24away from the display region101to cover the wire replacement region1021. Because the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31may be prepared by using the chemical vapor deposition, the thickness of the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31at the edge decreases, and the thickness of the second inorganic encapsulation part312is less than the thickness of the first inorganic encapsulation part311.

The second inorganic encapsulation part312further covers a bottom and a sidewall of the third opening63.

The inorganic spacer layer40is formed on one side of the encapsulation layer away from the substrate10, and includes the first inorganic spacer portion401corresponding to the first inorganic encapsulation part311, and the second inorganic spacer portion402corresponding to the second inorganic encapsulation part312.

The second inorganic spacer portion402further covers the bottom and the sidewall of the third opening63. That is, the second inorganic spacer portion402covers the second inorganic encapsulation part312.

Optionally, a material of the inorganic spacer portion401/402includes at least one of silicon oxide or silicon nitride.

The photoresist82is coated on the inorganic spacer layer40, and at least covers one side of the bank structure24near the display region101to expose the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31and the inorganic spacer layer40in the wire replacement region1021. Next, the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31and the inorganic spacer layer40not covered by the photoresist82are removed to expose the bottom and the sidewall of the third opening63and to expose an upper surface located in the interlayer insulating layer70and not covered by the photoresist82. Optionally, the second inorganic encapsulation part312and the second inorganic spacer portion402may be removed.

A touch metal layer50is formed on one side of the inorganic spacer layer40away from the substrate, and includes multiple touch electrodes located in the display region101and separately distributed, and touch traces51connected to the touch electrodes. The touch trace51extends to the wire replacement region1021and is electrically connected to the first metal trace211through the third opening63.

In addition, the embodiment of this disclosure further provides a display device including a main device body and the display panel in the above-mentioned embodiment, or the display panel manufactured by using the manufacturing method of the display panel in the above-mentioned embodiment, wherein the main device body and the display panel are combined together.

In summary, the embodiment of this disclosure is configured to provide the inorganic spacer layer40stacked with the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31in the display panel, so that the thickness of the inorganic film layer in the wire replacement region1021can be increased. Further, it is beneficial to the removing of the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31and the inorganic spacer layer40in the wire replacement region1021at a time in the etching process, and the wire replacing and bridging between the touch trace51and the first metal trace211can be implemented through the wire replacement region1021. Accordingly, this disclosure can be configured such that the wire replacement region1021is located at a position closer the display region101without the need of considering the phenomenon of the poor contact caused by the reason that the inorganic encapsulation sub-layer31extends into the wire replacement region1021, and thus has the thickness that is too thin to be effectively etched. Further, the distance between the wire replacement region1021and the display region101can be decreased, a bezel width of the display panel can be decreased, and a narrow bezel display panel can be implemented.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, the description of each embodiment has its own focus. For parts that are not described in detail in one embodiment, reference can be made to the relevant description of other embodiments.

Detailed introductions have been made to the display panel, the manufacturing method thereof and the display device provided by the embodiments of this disclosure. In this disclosure, specific examples are used to explain the principles and implementation of this disclosure, and the description of the above-mentioned embodiments is only used to help readers understand the technical solutions and core ideas of this disclosure. Those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that: they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalently replace some of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure.