Array substrate, display panel and mobile terminal

The present invention relates to a display panel technology field. An array substrate comprises a first metal layer, a buffer layer, a semiconductor layer, an insulating layer, a scanning metal layer, an inter layer dielectric, and a second metal layer that are sequentially stacked on a glass substrate along a first direction, and a first pixel set and a second pixel set that are arranged alternately along a second direction; and a first conductive path sequentially connecting the first pixel set and a second conductive path sequentially connecting the second pixel set. The first conductive path and the second conductive path change lines alternately in the first metal layer and the second metal layer, such that the first pixel set and the second pixel set are sequentially connected in series. With the array substrate of the present invention, the metal layer for changing line can be eliminated.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a display panel technology field, in particular to an array substrate, and a display panel and a mobile terminal comprising the array substrate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of display, the resolution of the display panel is generally improved by increasing the pixel density per unit area. In such a structure, the pixel density increases, resulting in an overload of a drive circuit and a delay in signal transmission, and causing poor display and reducing product reliability. The current solution in the industry is to use two drive circuits at the top and bottom of the display panel to input signals at the same time, and add a metal layer on the basis of the original signal line metal layer, and realize that each drive circuit is designed to drive a part of the pixels by a double-layer metal changing line way, so as to avoid the signal delay caused by the overload of a single drive circuit. The disadvantage of this solution is that the production of the metal for changing line requires an additional mask manufacturing process, which increases the cost and process, and reduces the production capacity, and the metal layer added is used as a signal line for changing line and cannot be used as a touch electrode. As a result, the touch function can only be achieved by a metal layer stacked on the signal line for changing line (namely, On Cell Touch mode, also called Add on mode), resulting in an increase in the thickness and weight of the entire product, and the product positioning is limited to the middle-end or low-end market.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an array substrate applied to signal line routing of a high resolution display panel. With the array substrate of the present invention, the mask process of the metal for changing line can be eliminated, and the cost of the process can be reduced, and the In Cell Touch function can be realized at the same time, and product performance and quality added value can be improved. This invention comprises the following technical solutions.

An array substrate comprises a first metal layer, a buffer layer, a semiconductor layer, an insulating layer, a scanning metal layer, an inter layer dielectric, and a second metal layer that are sequentially stacked on a glass substrate along a first direction, and a signal hole connecting the semiconductor layer and the second metal layer, and a via hole connecting the first metal layer and the second metal layer; the array substrate further comprising a first pixel set and a second pixel set that are arranged alternately along a second direction, and a first conductive path sequentially connecting the first pixel set and a second conductive path sequentially connecting the second pixel set; in the first pixel set, the first metal layer serving as a path layer of the first conductive path and a signal layer of the second conductive path respectively; the second metal layer serving as a signal layer of the first conductive path and a path layer of the second conductive path respectively; in the second pixel set, the first metal layer serving as a signal layer of the first conductive path and a path layer of the second conductive path, respectively; the second metal layer serving as a path layer of the first conductive path and a signal layer of the second conductive path respectively.

The number of pixel units in the first pixel set is the same as the number of pixel units in the second pixel set.

The first metal layer and the second metal layer disclosed herein are provided with patterned lines that coordinate with each other, so that via hole of the first conductive path and the via hole of the second conductive path are separated from each other.

The array substrate further disclosed herein may comprise a source electrode and a drain electrode, and the semiconductor layer is provided with a channel for connecting the source electrode and the drain electrode of the array substrate, and the first metal layer covers the channel in the first direction to achieve light shielding of the channel.

The number of the channels of the semiconductor layer in a single pixel unit is two, and the two channels are arranged along a third direction perpendicular to the second direction; and the first metal layer is divided into a first metal block and a second metal block that are independent of each other, and the first metal block and the second metal block are used to shield the two channels from light respectively; and the first conductive path connects the first metal block, and the second conductive path connects the second metal block.

The first pixel set disclosed herein may comprise only one pixel unit, and the second pixel set disclosed herein may also comprise only one pixel unit, and each of the pixel units comprises the via hole of the first conductive path and the via hole of the second conductive path.

The first pixel set disclosed herein may comprise at least two pixel units, and the second pixel set disclosed herein may also comprise at least two pixel units, and the second metal layer in the first pixel set and in the second pixel set further comprises a signal line that sequentially connects the pixel units in the first pixel set or in the second pixel set, and a path line that sequentially connects the first metal layer.

The array substrate disclosed herein may further comprise a planarization layer and a third metal layer that are sequentially stacked along the first direction, and the planarization layer is positioned between the second metal layer and the third metal layer.

The present invention also relates to a display panel, the display panel comprises the above array substrate, and a first drive circuit and a second drive circuit which are respectively arranged at two ends of the array substrate along the second direction, and the first drive circuit being electrically connected to the first conductive path and the second drive circuit being electrically connected to the second conductive path.

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal comprises the above display panel.

In the array substrate of the present invention, the first metal layer, the buffer layer, the semiconductor layer, the insulating layer, and the second metal layer are sequentially stacked on the glass substrate along the first direction, so that the first metal layer, the semiconductor layer and the second metal layer are insulated from each other. Through the arrangement of the signal hole and the via hole, the first metal layer and the semiconductor layer are respectively connected with the second metal layer, thereby realizing the basis of changing line and signal conduction. By disposing the second pixel set and the first pixel set, the pixels in the array substrate are divided into two parts, which reduces the pressure of the drive circuit. The first pixel set and the second pixel set are sequentially connected through the line changing of the first conductive path and the second conductive path in the first pixel set and the second pixel set, thereby achieving the functions that the array substrate of the present invention is driven respectively. In the array substrate of the present invention, the original first metal layer is used as the wire for changing line function, which eliminates the need to separately set the third metal layer for changing line. Therefore, compared to the prior art, the array substrate of the present invention simplifies the structure, eliminates a mask manufacturing process, simplifies the process to reduce costs, and also realizes thinning of the substrate and improves product quality.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with the technical matters, structural features, achieved objects, and effects with reference to the accompanying drawings as follows. It is clear that the described embodiments are part of embodiments of the present invention, but not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments to those of ordinary skill in the premise of no creative efforts obtained should be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

In some embodiments, referring toFIG. 1, an array substrate comprises a first metal layer10, a buffer layer20, a semiconductor layer30, an insulating layer40, a scanning metal layer41, an inter layer dielectric42, and a second metal layer50that are sequentially stacked on a glass substrate101along a first direction001. Sequentially, the material of the first metal layer10is molybdenum, and the material of the buffer layer20is silicon nitride and/or silicon oxide, and the semiconductor layer30is a layer of low temperature Poly-Si, and the material of the insulating layer40is also silicon nitride and/or silicon oxide, and the material of the scanning metal layer41is molybdenum, and the material of the inter layer dielectric42is silicon nitride and/or silicon oxide, and the material of the second metal layer50is titanium and/or aluminum. Therefore, the first metal layer10, the scanning metal layer41and the second metal layer50are all conductive structure layers, the buffer layer20, the inter layer dielectric42and the insulating layer40are all made of insulating materials, and the semiconductor layer30is made of a semiconductor material. The first metal layer10, the semiconductor layer30, the scanning metal layer41, and the second metal layer50are separated by an insulator, and do not form a conductive path with each other. As can be seen fromFIG. 2, the array substrate100is further provided with a signal hole60and a via hole70. The signal hole60is used to connect the semiconductor layer30and the second metal layer50, so as to realize the transmission of signal data to the pixel unit200. The via hole70is used to connect the first metal layer10and the second metal layer50.

In some embodiments, referring toFIG. 3, the array substrate100of the present invention further comprises a first pixel set210and a second pixel set220that are arranged alternately along a second direction002. The first pixel set210is a set of a plurality of pixel units200arranged along the second direction002, and the second pixel set220is also a set of a plurality of pixel units200arranged along the second direction002. The number of the pixel units200in the first pixel set210and in the second pixel set220may be the same or different. However, the first pixel set210and the second pixel set220need to be arranged alternately along the second direction002. The array substrate100of the present invention is further provided with a first conductive path110and a second conductive path120, and the first conductive path110is used for sequentially connecting the first pixel set210, and the second conductive path120is used for sequentially connecting the second pixel set220. In the first pixel set210, the first metal layer10serves as a path layer111of the first conductive path110and a signal layer122of the second conductive path120respectively, the second metal layer50serves as a signal layer112of the first conductive path110and a path layer121of the second conductive path120respectively. In the second pixel set220, the first metal layer10serves as a signal layer112of the first conductive path110and a path layer121of the second conductive path120respectively, the second metal layer50serves as a path layer111of the first conductive path110and a signal layer122of the second conductive path120respectively. The path layer111of the first conductive path110and the signal layer112of the first conductive path110are connected through a first via hole71, the path layer121of the second conductive path120and the signal layer122of the second conductive path120are connected through a second via hole71. The signal layer111of the first conductive path110is electrically connected to the semiconductor layer30through the first signal hole61, and the signal layer121of the second conductive path120is electrically connected to the semiconductor layer30through the second signal hole62. Since only the first signal hole61exists in the first pixel set210, that is, only the signal layer112of the first conductive path110is electrically connected to the semiconductor layer30. The signal layer122of the second conductive path120passes through the semiconductor layer30by using the first metal layer10, without connecting to the semiconductor layer30. Therefore, in the first pixel set210, only the first conductive path110is electrically connected to the first pixel set30, that is, the pixel unit200in the first pixel set210only receives the signal data of the first conductive path110. In the second pixel set220, only the second signal hole62exists, correspondingly, the pixel unit200in the second pixel set220only receives the signal data of the second conductive path120. In the process of arranging the first pixel set210and the second pixel set220alternately along the second direction002, the first path110connects the first pixel set210sequentially, and the second path120connects the second pixel set sequentially, that is, the first pixel set210is connected in series through the first conductive path110, and the second pixel set220is connected in series through the second conductive path120, and the two sets of pixels that are arranged alternately cross each other without connecting, forming two independent paths.

In some embodiments, the independence of the first conductive path110and the second conductive path120makes the density of the pixel unit200increase in unit area in the array substrate100, and makes a part of the pixels on the array substrate100be driven by two independent drive circuits310, and the two independent drive circuits310connect the first conductive path110and the second conductive path120respectively. When signals of the two independent drive circuits310coordinate with each other, the display function of the array substrate100can be realized together, and the resolution of the display panel is improved. Compared with the existing product in which a single metal layer is provided to realize the design of the first conductive path110and the second conductive path120, the array substrate100of the present invention utilizes the changing line design of the first metal layer10and the second metal layer50to reasonably utilize the first metal layer10and eliminate the production or occupation of a metal layer, thereby eliminating a mask manufacturing process, saving manufacturing costs, simplifying the product structure, reducing product thickness, and improving product quality.

In some embodiments, understandably, in order to balance the power of the two independent drive circuits310, the total number of the pixel units200in the first pixel set210and in the second pixel set220should be equal, and the number of the pixel units200in each of the first pixel sets210and the number of the pixel units200in each of the second pixel sets220are preferably same. This facilitates the signal distribution of the two independent drive circuits310while keeping the total electric resistance of the respective first conductive path110and the second conductive path120unchanged, and makes the signal interference between the first conductive path110and the second conductive path120more balanced, and guarantees the consistency of the real picture.

In some embodiments, in the third direction003perpendicular to the second direction002, a plurality of the first pixel sets210are sequentially arranged, and a plurality of the second pixel sets220are also sequentially arranged, so that the first pixel sets210and the second pixel sets220are arranged in a row on the array substrate100of the present invention, and each row of the first pixel sets210and each row of the second pixels sets220are arranged alternately. The scanning metal layer41extends along the third direction003and passes through each row of the first pixel sets210or each row of the second pixel sets220to achieve the signal conduction control to a single row of the first pixel sets210or a single row of the second pixel sets220.

Further, referring toFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the second metal layer50is also used to form a pixel electrode104of the array substrate100, and the pixel electrode104is connected with the semiconductor layer30through a conductive hole105to form a conductive path of a single pixel unit200.

In some embodiments, inside the first pixel set210and the second pixel set220, the first conductive path110and the second conductive path120are separated from each other by the buffer layer20. In order to keep the first conductive path110and the second conductive path120also separated from each other, it is necessary that the first via hole71and the second via hole72are also separated from each other by the buffer layer20. Thus, in an embodiment, during the respective preparation processes of the first metal layer10and the second metal layer50, it is necessary to design a patterned lines that coordinate with each other, so that the via hole71of the first conductive path110and the via hole72of the second conductive path120are separated from each other.

In some embodiments, in the array substrate100described in the present invention, the array substrate30further comprises a source electrode102and a drain electrode103, and the semiconductor layer30is provided with a channel31for connecting the source electrode102and the drain electrode103of the array substrate100. After the signal data of the first conductive path110and the second conductive path120is transmitted to the semiconductor layer30through the signal hole60, the conduction of the channel31is realized through the scanning metal layer41. Specifically, the conduction of the channel31is realized by a gate electrode that matches the shape of the channel31, and the gate electrode is formed by the scanning metal layer41. Thus, the signal data is transmitted between the source102and the drain103, and the pixel unit200performs a display function according to the data signal. Due to the narrow band gap of the semiconductor layer30, electron transitions easily occur under the lighting conditions, resulting in unintended conduction of the channel31. Therefore, the first metal layer10needs to cover the channel31in the first direction001. The first metal layer10plays another important role in the array substrate100of the present invention, namely, achieving the light shielding of the channel, so as to prevent the light source below the array substrate100from interfering with the channel31.

In some embodiments, understandably, the shape of the first metal layer10is set according to the channel31, that is, the first metal layer can effectively perform the light shielding function as long as it fully covers the channel31. In order to avoid the shielding of the light sources below the array substrate100by the metal layers, the first metal layer10, the scanning metal layer41, and the second metal layer50are at least partially overlapped in the first direction001, so as to avoid light shielding by the metal and avoid affecting the light transmittance of the display panel. In these embodiments, the larger the overlapping portion of the first metal layer10, the scanning metal layer41, and the second metal layer50in the first direction001, the greater the light transmittance of the array substrate100is.

On the other hand, in some embodiments, the width of the scanning metal layer41is the same as the width of the channel31, and the conduction function of the channel31by the scanning metal layer41can be better achieved.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 4, in the single pixel unit200, the number of the channels31of the semiconductor layer30is two. The two channels31are arranged in the third direction003perpendicular to the second direction002. A connecting line between the two channels31is positioned at one end of the channel31away from the signal hole60. Correspondingly, in the single pixel unit200, the first metal layer10is divided into a first metal block11and a second metal block12that are independent of each other. The first metal block11and the second metal block12are used to shield the two channels31from light respectively, and provide a light shielding function. The first metal block11and the second metal block12are also separated by the buffer layer20and are independent of each other. Thus, the first conductive path110and the second conductive path120may be disposed to connect the first metal block11and the second metal block12respectively, to achieve separate conductive paths. Since the interval between the first metal block11and the second metal block12can effectively avoid the interference between signals, this embodiment makes better use of the shape of the first metal layer10than the provision of a special patterned shape to realize the conductive path.

In the embodiments ofFIG. 3andFIG. 4, the number of the pixel units200in the first pixel set210is one, and the number of the pixel units200in the second pixel set220is also one, that is, the array substrate100arranges the first pixel set210and the second pixel set220in the second direction002by changing lines in an interlaced way. The first conductive path110and the second conductive path120both comprise the via hole71of the first conductive path110and the via hole72of the second conductive path120in each pixel unit200. The array substrate100that changes line in progressive way takes the minimum display unit in the array substrate100for changing line design. In the case where a certain pixel set fails and is not displayed, the defects of the single pixel unit200can be compensated for by the display of the pixel units200around it, which is not easily found by the user, and the influence on the display effect is also reduced to the minimum.

In another embodiment, the first pixel set210is two of the pixel units200. Correspondingly, the second pixel set220is also two of the pixel units200(seeFIG. 5). When the span between the first pixel set210and the second pixel set220is large, the number of changing line can be reduced, that is, the number of the via holes70can be reduced. This simplifies product structure and processing complexity and increases production efficiency. Understandably, in order to realize the signal conduction of each of the pixel units200in the first pixel set210and the second pixel set220, the second metal layer50also needs to be provided with a signal line63that connects the pixel unit200in the first pixel set210or in the second pixel set220. Similarly, the first metal layer10also needs to be provided with a path line73that sequentially connects the first metal layer10in each of the pixel units200.

In some embodiments, understandably, the number of the pixel units200in the first pixel set210and in the second pixel set220may also be set to more than two, so that the span between the first conductive path110and the second conductive path120after each line changing is further increased. This can further reduce the number of via holes70and simplify the structure. This invention is not overly limited here.

In one embodiment, referring toFIG. 6, on the basis of the above-mentioned array substrate100, a planarization layer80and a third metal layer90sequentially stacked along the first direction001are further provided, and the planarization layer80is positioned between the second metal layer50and the third metal layer90. The third metal layer90can be set as a touch electrode of the array substrate100because it does not need to be used for changing line. The insulating layer91made of silicon nitride layer is covered on the third metal layer90. By making a hole in the insulating layer91, the third metal layer90is connected to an indium tin oxide layer92of the upper layer. The indium tin oxide layer92can sense a capacitance change caused by a finger touching the liquid crystal panel, thereby realizing a touch control function. The third metal layer90of the array substrate100of the present invention is not used to change line, so that the third metal layer90can be set as a touch sensing line. Further, the disposition of the third metal layer90on the array substrate100allows the thickness of the array substrate100to be reduced, thereby realizing the function of In Cell Touch.

In some embodiments, the present invention further relates to a display panel300(seeFIG. 7). The display panel300may be a liquid crystal panel, or may be an OLED panel. The type of the display panel300is not limited thereto. The display panel300comprises the above array substrate100, and drive circuits310which are respectively arranged at two ends of the array substrate100along the second direction002. One of the drive circuits310is electrically connected to the first conductive path110and the other of the drive circuits310is electrically connected to the second conductive path120. Therefore, by using the structure arrangement of the two independent signal paths on the array substrate100of the present invention, the display panel300is realized to drive two sets of the pixel units200on the array substrate100through two independent drive circuits310respectively and reduce the load of the single drive circuit310and effectively avoid defects of signal delay.

In some embodiments, understandably, since the mobile terminal according to the present invention comprises the display panel300, it has a higher screen resolution and a thinner body, and an improved overall quality.