Display panel

A display panel according to an embodiment is provided and includes a top substrate having an outer surface; a display layer covered by the top substrate; a patterned light shielding layer disposed on the outer surface of the top substrate and located within the first region; and a patterned oxide layer disposed on the outer surface of the top substrate. The outer surface comprises a first region and a second region beside the first region. An edge of the patterned light shielding layer at least partially overlaps a boundary between the first region and the second region. The patterned oxide layer is located within one of the first region and the second region while exposes the other of the first region and the second region.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to an electronic device, in particular, to a display panel.

2. Description of Related Art

For demarcating and defining the display region, a display panel is usually disposed with a patterned light shielding layer such as black matrix, wherein the patterned light shielding layer may have a frame-like pattern or a matrix-like pattern and the region surrounded by the frame-like pattern or the matrix-like pattern is served as the display region. The black matrix layer may not only define the display region but also prevent unwanted light leakage.

For a liquid crystal display panel, a display layer including liquid crystal material is disposed between a top substrate and a bottom substrate while the top substrate and the bottom substrate are attached or assembled with each other via a sealant or an adhesive. In a case the sealant or the adhesive is a light curable material, the top substrate needs to be transparent for a curing light passing through it and irradiating the light curable sealant or adhesive. In addition, after the assembly of the top substrate and the bottom substrate, a light shielding layer is formed on the top surface of the top substrate via a wet process such as an ink-jet printing process, a screen printing process, an APR printing process or the like. The light shielding layer is disposed on the non-display region to shield the unwanted light leakage and help to improve the display contrast. However, the pattern of the light shielding layer formed by using a wet process is usually not sharp, which may affect the predetermined light shielding effect of the light shielding layer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a display panel including a light shielding layer with a sharp pattern.

According to an embodiment, a display panel including a top substrate having an outer surface; a display layer covered by the top substrate; a patterned light shielding layer disposed on the outer surface of the top substrate and located within the first region; and a patterned oxide layer disposed on the outer surface of the top substrate. The outer surface comprises a first region and a second region beside the first region. An edge of the patterned light shielding layer at least partially overlaps a boundary between the first region and the second region. The patterned oxide layer is located within one of the first and the second regions while exposes the other of the first region and the second region.

According to an embodiment, the patterned oxide layer is located in the first region and disposed between the top substrate and the patterned light shielding layer.

According to an embodiment, the patterned oxide layer has a modified surface in contact with the patterned light shielding layer.

According to an embodiment, the outer surface of the top substrate is modified at the second region to form a modified outer surface, and the modified outer surface is more hydrophobic than the modified surface of the patterned oxide layer.

According to an embodiment, the outer surface of the top substrate is further modified at the first region, the modified outer surface is located at both the second region and the first region, and the patterned oxide layer is disposed on the modified outer surface at the first region.

According to an embodiment, the patterned oxide layer is in direct contact with the patterned light shielding layer.

According to an embodiment, an underlying oxide layer is further disposed on the outer surface of the top substrate and located at the second region.

According to an embodiment, the underlying oxide layer exposes the first region.

According to an embodiment, the underlying oxide layer is further disposed at the first region and is disposed between the top substrate and the patterned oxide layer.

According to an embodiment, the underlying oxide layer has a modified surface with hydrophobic property.

According to an embodiment, a material of the patterned oxide layer is different from a material of the underlying oxide layer.

According to an embodiment, the outer surface of the top substrate is modified to form a modified outer surface and the patterned oxide layer is disposed on the modified outer surface.

According to an embodiment, a material of the patterned oxide layer includes an oxide having surface hydroxyl groups.

According to an embodiment, the oxide includes at least one selected from thermally evaporated SiOx, ITO, TiO2, and Al2O3.

According to an embodiment, the patterned oxide layer is located in the second region and exposes the first region.

According to an embodiment, the patterned oxide layer has a modified surface with hydrophobic property.

According to an embodiment, the outer surface is modified at the first region to form a modified outer surface, and the modified outer surface is less hydrophobic than the modified surface of the patterned oxide.

According to an embodiment, the patterned light shielding layer is in direct contact with the top substrate at the first region.

According to an embodiment, a bottom substrate is further disposed to be opposite to the top substrate, wherein the display layer is disposed between the top substrate and the bottom substrate.

According to an embodiment, a sealant is further disposed between the top substrate and the bottom substrate and surrounding the display layer.

According to an embodiment, a material of the patterned light shielding layer comprises ink material.

In view of the above, the patterned light shielding layer is disposed on the outer surface of the top substrate at the first region which involves a relatively hydrophilic property compared with the second region. The pattern of the patterned light shielding layer is sharp and has an edge with good linearity in the case that the patterned light shielding layer is formed on the top substrate via wet process. Accordingly, the patterned light shielding layer of the display panel provides desirable light shielding function so as to improve the quality of the display panel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1schematically illustrates a top view of a display panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 1, the display panel100has a first region102and a second region104beside the first region102. The first region102at the top view has a frame-like pattern and surrounds the second region104. In addition, the display panel100includes a patterned light shielding layer110that is located within the first region102. Specifically, the patterned light shielding layer110has a frame-like pattern in the present embodiment. The first region102can be considered as the region where the patterned light shielding layer110is disposed. An edge of the patterned light shielding layer110substantially overlaps a boundary BN between the first region102and the second region104. The patterned light shielding layer110has light shielding effect and the display light of the display panel100is obstructed or shielded by the patterned light shielding layer110so that the displayed image is presented in the second region104and the second region104can be considered as the display region. In an alternative embodiment, the pattern of the patterned light shielding layer110may be other patterns according to the design requirement.

In one embodiment, the patterned light shielding layer110is formed at the outer surface of the display panel100via a wet process such as an ink-jet printing process, a screen printing process, an APR printing process or the like. For the pattern of the patterned light shielding layer110having better edge linearity, the surface on which the patterned light shielding layer110is formed can be treated or modified to render the surface at the first region102relatively hydrophilic and the surface at the second region104relatively hydrophobic.

For example, as shown inFIG. 2which schematically illustrates a cross section of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a display panel100A includes the patterned light shielding layer110, a top substrate120A, a bottom substrate130, a display layer140, a sealant150, and a patterned oxide layer160A. The patterned light shielding layer110is disposed on the top of the display panel100, in which the pattern of the patterned light shielding layer110in the top view can be substantially the same or similar to the patterned light shielding layer110shown inFIG. 1. Specifically, the patterned light shielding layer110has a frame-like pattern and the display panel100A has a first region102and a second region104, similar to the first region102and the second region104depicted inFIG. 1. In other words, the top view of the display panel100A is similar to the display panel100.

The top substrate120A and the bottom substrate130are arranged opposite to each other and the sealant150is disposed between the top substrate120A and the bottom substrate130. Specifically, the top substrate120A and the bottom substrate130are assembled with each other via the sealant150. The display layer140is disposed between the top substrate120A and the bottom substrate130, and is surrounded by the sealant150. The material of the display layer140may be liquid crystal material so that the top substrate120A, the bottom substrate130, the display layer140and the sealant150may serve as a liquid crystal cell.

In the present embodiment, the top substrate120A has an outer surface S1A and the outer surface S1A can entirely be treated or modified to involve hydrophobic property. For example, the outer surface S1A can be subjected to a silane surface treatment. In a microscopic view, the outer surface S1A can include the hydrophobic material HB thereon for having the hydrophobic property. In an embodiment, the hydrophobic material HB includes silanes, fluorinated silanes, long-chain alcohols or acids. Specifically, the hydrophobic material HB may contain hydroxyl groups to react with the outer surface S1A or the patterned oxide160A inFIG. 2.

Furthermore, the patterned oxide layer160A is formed and disposed on the outer surface S1A of the top substrate120A at the first region102. The patterned light shielding layer110is further disposed on the patterned oxide layer160A so that the patterned oxide layer160A is disposed between the patterned light shielding layer110and the top substrate120A and the patterned oxide layer160A is in direct contact with the patterned light shielding layer110. A material of the patterned oxide layer160A includes an oxide having surface hydroxyl groups which may further react with the hydrophobic material HB. More specifically, the oxide having surface hydroxyl groups may include at least one selected from thermally evaporated SiOx, ITO, TiO2, and Al2O3. In the case the patterned oxide layer160A is made of thermally evaporated SiOx, the patterned oxide layer160A may have a small water contact angle owing to the reaction between the hydrophobic material HB and the thermally evaporated SiOx, so that the ink for forming the patterned light shielding layer110may well spread over the patterned oxide layer160A to obtain a desirable pattern of the patterned light shielding layer110. Namely, compared with the hydrophobic material HB, the material of the patterned oxide layer160A is relatively less hydrophobic or more hydrophilic. Accordingly, the patterned light shielding layer110formed on the patterned oxide layer160A may have a clear and sharp pattern and the edge of the pattern of the patterned light shielding layer110may have good linearity.

Specifically, in the case the patterned light shielding layer110is fabricated on the patterned oxide layer160A via a wet process such as an inkjet printing process, an ink material is dropped on the patterned oxide layer160A in the first region102. Owing that the patterned oxide layer160A has better hydrophilic property than the outer surface S1A at the second region104, the ink material may evenly spread over the patterned oxide layer160A in the first region102without spill to the second region104. Therefore, the ink material may be evenly distributed and firmly restricted within the first region102. In addition, the contact angle of the ink material at the boundary between the first region102and the second region104may be large. Thereafter, a curing process can be performed to solidify the ink material to form the patterned light shielding layer110having a sharp pattern. Particularly, the pattern of the patterned light shielding layer110may have an edge with good linearity.

FIG. 3schematically illustrates a cross section of a display panel in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 3, in another embodiment, a display panel100B is similar to the display panel100A and the same or similar reference numbers in the two embodiments represent the same or similar elements or components. Specifically, the display panel100B includes the patterned light shielding layer110, a top substrate120A, a bottom substrate130, a display layer140, a sealant150, and a patterned oxide layer160B, in which the functions and the dispositions of the patterned light shielding layer110, the top substrate120A, the bottom substrate130, the display layer140, and the sealant150may refer to the detail descriptions in the previous embodiment and are not reiterated here. In the present embodiment, the patterned oxide layer160B is disposed on the outer surface S1A of the top substrate120A having the hydrophobic material HB. In addition, the patterned oxide layer160B is treated or modified to include the hydrophobic material HB′ thereon and the patterned light shielding layer110is disposed on the surface S2of the patterned oxide layer160B having the hydrophobic material HB′. In other words, the modified surface S2is in contact with the patterned light shielding layer110. Herein, the patterned oxide layer160B though including the hydrophobic material HB′ is less hydrophobic than the outer surface S1A of the top substrate120A at the second region104so that the patterned light shielding layer110may have a sharp pattern which includes the edge with good linearity.

The fabrication process of the display panel100B can include the following steps, but is not limited thereto. After assembling the top substrate120A and the bottom substrate130via the sealant150, a surface treatment or modification process is performed on the entire outer surface S1A of the top substrate120A, such that the outer surface S1A has hydrophobic property. The patterned oxide layer160B is subsequently disposed on the modified outer surface S1A at the first region102. Another surface treatment or modification process is performed on the outer surface S1A of the top substrate120A and the surface S2of the patterned oxide layer160B. Then, the patterned light shielding layer110is formed on the patterned oxide layer160B, such that the display panel100B is fabricated. In an example, both of the surface treatment or modification processes may be a silane surface treatment process.

In the present embodiment, a material of the patterned oxide layer160B includes an oxide having surface hydroxyl groups which may further react with the hydrophobic material HB. More specifically, the oxide having surface hydroxyl groups may include at least one selected from thermally evaporated SiOx, ITO, TiO2, and Al2O3and the material of the top substrate120A can be glass, quartz, or the like. The material of the top substrate120A is more effective to the surface treatment or modification process than the material of the patterned oxide layer160B, and the surface S2of the patterned oxide layer160is subjected to the surface treatment or modification process once while the outer surface S1A of the top substrate120A is subjected to the surface treatment or modification process twice. Accordingly, the distribution density of the hydrophobic material HB on the modified outer surface S1A at the second region104is more than the distribution density of the hydrophobic material HB′ on the surface S2of the patterned oxide layer160B and the modified outer surface S1A is more hydrophobic than the modified surface S2of the patterned oxide layer160B. As such, the patterned light shielding layer110is formed on the surface S2having less hydrophobic than the outer surface S1A and has a sharp pattern with the edge having good linearity.

FIG. 4schematically illustrates a cross section of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 4, in another embodiment, a display panel100C is similar to the display panel100A and the same or similar reference numbers in the two embodiments represent the same or similar elements or components. Specifically, the display panel100C includes the patterned light shielding layer110, a top substrate120B, a bottom substrate130, a display layer140, a sealant150, and a patterned oxide layer160A, in which the functions and the dispositions of the patterned light shielding layer110, the bottom substrate130, the display layer140, the sealant150and the patterned oxide layer160A may refer to the detail descriptions of the previous embodiment ofFIG. 2and are not reiterated here. In the present embodiment, the top substrate120B is assembled with the bottom substrate130via the sealant150and the outer surface S1B of the top substrate120B includes the hydrophobic material HB at the second region104while the outer surface S1B of the top substrate120B does not include the hydrophobic material HB at the first region102. Herein, the patterned oxide layer160A is less hydrophobic than the outer surface S1B of the top substrate120B at the second region104so that the patterned light shielding layer110can have a sharp pattern which has the edge with good linearity.

Specifically, the fabrication process of the display panel100C can include the following steps, but is not limited thereto. After assembling the top substrate120B and the bottom substrate130via the sealant150, a surface treatment or modification process is performed on the outer surface S1B of the top substrate120B, such that the outer surface S1B has hydrophobic property. A patterning process is performed to pattern the region involving the hydrophobic property, such that the outer surface S1B includes the hydrophobic material HB at the second region104and does not include the hydrophobic material HB at the first region102. The patterned oxide layer160A is subsequently disposed on the outer surface S1B at the first region102where no hydrophobic material HB is distributed. Then, the patterned light shielding layer110is formed on the patterned oxide layer160A via the wetting process such as an ink-jet printing process. Herein, the outer surface S113at the second region104is more hydrophobic than the patterned oxide layer160A. Therefore, the pattern of patterned light shielding layer110can have sharp pattern in the top view.

In an example, the surface treatment or modification process may be a silane surface treatment process and the patterning process may be performed by shielding the second region104via a mask and irradiating an electromagnetic wave on the outer surface S1B through the mask. The electromagnetic wave irradiates at the first region102without irradiating at the second region104. In an example, the electromagnetic wave may be UV (ultraviolet) light or EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) light which has sufficient energy to decompose the hydrophobic material on the irradiated region. Therefore, after performing the patterning process, the hydrophobic material HB at the second region104remains and the hydrophobic material HB at the first region102is decomposed so that the outer surface S1B includes the hydrophobic material HB at the second region104rather than the first region102.

FIG. 5schematically illustrates a cross section of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 5, in another embodiment, a display panel100D is similar to the display panel100A and the same or similar reference numbers in the two embodiments represent the same or similar elements or components. Specifically, the display panel100D includes the patterned light shielding layer110, a top substrate120B, a bottom substrate130, a display layer140, a sealant150, and a patterned oxide layer160B, in which the functions and the dispositions of the patterned light shielding layer110, the bottom substrate130, the display layer140, and the sealant150may refer to the detail descriptions of the previous embodiment ofFIG. 2and are not reiterated here. In the present embodiment, the top substrate120B is assembled with the bottom substrate130via the sealant150and the outer surface SIB of the top substrate120B includes the hydrophobic material HB at the second region104while the outer surface S1B of the top substrate120B does not include the hydrophobic material HB at the first region102. Herein, the patterned oxide layer160B is disposed on the outer surface S1B of the top substrate120B at the first region102. In addition, the patterned oxide layer160B can be treated or modified to include the hydrophobic material HB′ thereon. The patterned light shielding layer110is disposed on the surface S2of the patterned oxide layer160B having the hydrophobic material HB′. Herein, the patterned oxide layer160B though including the hydrophobic material HB′ is less hydrophobic than the outer surface S1B of the top substrate120B at the second region104so that the patterned light shielding layer110may have a sharp pattern which has the edge with good linearity. Specifically, the step of forming the patterned oxide layer160B may refer to the detail descriptions of the embodiment ofFIG. 3and the step of forming the outer surface S1B of the top substrate120B may refer to the detail descriptions of the embodiment ofFIG. 4.

FIG. 6schematically illustrates a cross section of a display panel according to further another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 6, a display panel100E includes the patterned light shielding layer110, a top substrate120C, a bottom substrate130, a display layer140, a sealant150, a patterned oxide layer160A, and an underlying oxide layer170A. The display panel100E is substantially similar to the display panel100A, and the same or similar reference numbers in the present embodiment and the embodiment ofFIG. 2may represent the same or similar elements or components. Specifically, the functions and the dispositions of some of the elements or components such as the patterned light shielding layer110, the bottom substrate130, the display layer140, the sealant150and the patterned oxide layer160A in the present embodiment may refer to the detail descriptions of the embodiment ofFIG. 2.

In the present embodiment, the top substrate120C is assembled with the bottom substrate130via the sealant150to surround the display layer140. The underlying oxide layer170A is disposed on top of the top substrate120C and the underlying oxide layer170A is located at both the first region102and the second region104. The patterned oxide layer160A is disposed on the underlying oxide layer170A at the first region102and the patterned light shielding layer110is disposed on the patterned oxide layer160A. In addition, the surface S3A of the underlying oxide layer170A is treated or modified to include the hydrophobic material HB thereon. In the present embodiment, the hydrophobic material HB is distributed at the entire surface S3A of the underlying oxide layer170A.

The fabrication process of the display panel100E can include the following steps, but is not limited thereto. After assembling the top substrate120C and the bottom substrate130via the sealant150to surround the display layer140, the underlying oxide layer170A is formed on top of the top substrate120C. A surface treatment or modification process is further performed on the surface S3A of the underlying oxide layer170A, such that the modified surface S3A has hydrophobic property. The patterned oxide layer160A is subsequently disposed on the outer surface S3A at the first region102. Then, the patterned light shielding layer110is formed on the patterned oxide layer160A.

A material of the underlying oxide layer170A can include aluminium oxide, the surface treatment or modification process may be a silane surface treatment process, and the material of the underlying oxide layer170A may be different from the material of the patterned oxide layer160A. For example, the material of the patterned oxide layer160A may include an oxide having surface hydroxyl groups which may further react with the hydrophobic material HB. More specifically, the oxide having surface hydroxyl groups may include at least one selected from thermally evaporated SiOx, ITO, TiO2, Al2O3. In one example, the material of the underlying oxide layer170A may be intrinsically more hydrophobic than the material of the patterned oxide layer160A, but not limit thereto. The patterned oxide layer160A provides the first region102less hydrophobic than the second region104. In the case the patterned light shielding layer110is formed in the first region102via a wet process, the pattern of the patterned light shielding layer110can be sharp and have the edge with good linearity.

FIG. 7schematically illustrates a cross section of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 7, in another embodiment, a display panel100F is similar to the display panel100E and the same or similar reference numbers in the two embodiments represent the same or similar elements or components. Specifically, the display panel100F includes the patterned light shielding layer110, a top substrate120C, a bottom substrate130, a display layer140, a sealant150, a patterned oxide layer160B and a underlying oxide layer170A, in which the functions and the dispositions of the patterned light shielding layer110, the top substrate120C, the bottom substrate130, the display layer140, and the sealant150may refer to the detail descriptions of the previous embodiments and are not reiterated here.

In the present embodiment, the patterned oxide layer160B is disposed on the surface S3A of the underlying oxide layer170A having the hydrophobic material HB and located within the first region102. The patterned oxide layer160B may be treated or modified to include the hydrophobic material HB′ thereon and the patterned light shielding layer110is disposed on the surface S2of the patterned oxide layer160B having the hydrophobic material HB′. The fabrication process of the patterned oxide layer160B may refer to the detail descriptions of the embodiment ofFIG. 3and is not reiterated here. Accordingly, the patterned oxide layer160B though including the hydrophobic material HB′ is less hydrophobic than the surface S3A of the underlying oxide layer170A so that the patterned light shielding layer110can have a sharp pattern which has the edge with good linearity.

FIG. 8schematically illustrates a cross section of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 8, in another embodiment, a display panel100G is similar to the display panel100E and the same or similar reference numbers in the two embodiments represent the same or similar elements or components. Specifically, the display panel100G includes the patterned light shielding layer110, a top substrate120C, a bottom substrate130, a display layer140, a sealant150, a patterned oxide layer160A and an underlying oxide layer170B, in which the functions and the dispositions of the patterned light shielding layer110, the top substrate120C, the bottom substrate130, the display layer140, the sealant150, and the patterned oxide layer160A may refer to the detail descriptions of the previous embodiment ofFIG. 6and are not reiterated here.

In the present embodiment, the surface S3B of the underlying oxide layer170B includes the hydrophobic material HB at the second region104while the surface S3B of the underlying oxide layer170B does not include the hydrophobic material HB at the first region102. In addition, the patterned oxide layer160A is formed on the underlying oxide layer170B at the first region102and is less hydrophobic than the surface S3B of the underlying oxide layer170B at the second region104so that the patterned light shielding layer110can have a sharp pattern which has the edge with good linearity.

The fabrication process of the display panel100G can include the following steps, but is not limited thereto. After assembling the top substrate120C and the bottom substrate130via the sealant150to surround the display layer140, the underlying oxide layer170B is formed on top of the top substrate120C. A surface treatment or modification process is further performed on the surface S3B of the underlying oxide layer170B, such that the surface S3B has hydrophobic property. A patterning treatment process is performed to pattern the region involving the hydrophobic property, such that the surface S3B includes the hydrophobic material HB at the second region104and does not include the hydrophobic material HB at the first region102. The patterned oxide layer160A is subsequently disposed on the underlying oxide layer170B at the first region102where the hydrophobic material HB is absent. Then, the patterned light shielding layer110is formed on the patterned oxide layer160A via a wet process.

Owing that the underlying oxide layer170B has the hydrophobic material HB in the second region104and the patterned oxide layer160A is formed in the first region102, the first region102provides better hydrophilic property and the second region104provides better hydrophobic property, which helps the ink material for forming the patterned light shielding layer110by a wet process to evenly spread within the first region102without spill to the second region104. Therefore, the sharp pattern of the patterned light shielding layer110can be achieved.

FIG. 9schematically illustrates a cross section of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 9, in another embodiment, a display panel100H is similar to the display panel100G and the same or similar reference numbers in the two embodiments represent the same or similar elements or components. Specifically, the display panel100H includes the patterned light shielding layer110, a top substrate120C, a bottom substrate130, a display layer140, a sealant150, a patterned oxide layer160B and an underlying oxide layer170B, in which the functions and the dispositions of the patterned light shielding layer110, the top substrate120C, the bottom substrate130, the display layer140, and the sealant150may refer to the detail descriptions of the previous embodiments and are not reiterated here.

In the present embodiment, the patterned oxide layer160B is disposed on the surface S3B of the underlying oxide layer170B having the hydrophobic material HB. The patterned oxide layer160B may be treated or modified to include the hydrophobic material HB′ thereon and the patterned light shielding layer110is disposed on the surface S2of the patterned oxide layer160B having the hydrophobic material HB′. The fabrication process of the patterned oxide layer160B can refer to the detail descriptions of the embodiment ofFIG. 3and is not reiterated here. Accordingly, the surface S2of the patterned oxide layer160B though including the hydrophobic material HB′ is less hydrophobic than the surface S3B of the underlying oxide layer170B so that the patterned light shielding layer110can have a sharp pattern which has the edge with good linearity.

FIG. 10schematically illustrates a cross section of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 10, in another embodiment, a display panel100I is similar to the display panel100E and the same or similar reference numbers in the two embodiments represent the same or similar elements or components. Specifically, the display panel100I includes the patterned light shielding layer110, a top substrate120C, a bottom substrate130, a display layer140, a sealant150, a patterned oxide layer160A and an underlying oxide layer170C, in which the functions and the dispositions of the patterned light shielding layer110, the top substrate120C, the bottom substrate130, the display layer140, the sealant150, and the patterned oxide layer160A may refer to the detail descriptions of the embodiment ofFIG. 6and are not reiterated here.

In the present embodiment, the underlying oxide layer170C is patterned to be located within the second region104and expose the first region102. The underlying oxide layer170C includes the hydrophobic material HB thereon so as to provide hydrophobic property at the second region104. The patterned oxide layer160A is disposed at the first region102and is less hydrophobic than the surface of the underlying oxide layer170C so that the patterned light shielding layer110may have a sharp pattern which has the edge with good linearity.

The fabrication process of the display panel100I can include the following steps, but is not limited thereto. After assembling the top substrate120C and the bottom substrate130via the sealant150, the underlying oxide layer170C is formed on top of the top substrate120C. A surface treatment or modification process is performed on the surface of the underlying oxide layer170C so as to provide hydrophobic property at the second region104. A patterning process is performed to remove the underlying oxide layer170C at the first region102. The removing of the underlying oxide layer170C can be achieved by performing a lithographic-etching process, but not limited thereto. The patterned oxide layer160A is subsequently disposed on the top substrate120C at the first region102. Then, the patterned light shielding layer110is formed on the patterned oxide layer160A via a wet process.

In the present embodiment, the underlying oxide layer170C may be only disposed within the second region104and expose the first region102, and the patterned oxide layer160A is directly disposed on top of the top substrate120C at the first region102. Owing that the underlying oxide layer170C is treated or modified to be hydrophobic and patterned to be restricted within the second region104and the patterned oxide layer160A is located within the first region102, the ink material used for forming the patterned light shielding layer110by a wet process can evenly spread over the first region102without spill to the second region104so that the edge of the cured patterned light shielding layer110can have good linearity and sharp pattern.

FIG. 11schematically illustrates a cross section of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 11, in another embodiment, a display panel100J is similar to the display panel100I and the same or similar reference numbers in the two embodiments represent the same or similar elements or components. Specifically, the display panel100J includes the patterned light shielding layer110, a top substrate120C, a bottom substrate130, a display layer140, a sealant150, a patterned oxide layer160B and an underlying oxide layer170C, in which the functions and the dispositions of the patterned light shielding layer110, the top substrate120C, the bottom substrate130, the display layer140, and the sealant150may refer to the detail descriptions of the previous embodiment and are not reiterated here.

In the present embodiment, the patterned oxide layer160B is disposed on the top substrate120C at the first region102while the underlying oxide layer170C is only located at the second region104and exposes the first region102. The patterned oxide layer160B can be treated or modified to include the hydrophobic material HB′ thereon and the patterned light shielding layer110is disposed on the surface S2of the patterned oxide layer160B having the hydrophobic material HB′. The fabrication process of the patterned oxide layer160B may refer to the detail descriptions of the embodiment ofFIG. 3and is not reiterated here. Accordingly, the surface S2of the patterned oxide layer160B though including the hydrophobic material HB′ is less hydrophobic than the surface of the underlying oxide layer170C so that the patterned light shielding layer110may have a sharp pattern which has the edge with good linearity.

FIG. 12schematically illustrates a cross section of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 12, a display panel200A includes the patterned light shielding layer210, a top substrate220A, a bottom substrate230, a display layer240, a sealant250, and a patterned oxide layer260. The patterned light shielding layer210is disposed on and in direct contact with the top substrate220A of the display panel200A, in which the pattern of the patterned light shielding layer210in the top view may be substantially the same or similar to the patterned light shielding layer110shown inFIG. 1and have a frame-like pattern. Specifically, the display panel200A has a first region202and a second region204, that are similar to the first region102and the second region104depicted inFIG. 1. In other words, the top view of the display panel200A is similar to the display panel100and the first region202serves as the non-display region while the second region204serves as the display region.

The top substrate220A and the bottom substrate230are arranged opposite to each other and the sealant250is disposed between the top substrate220A and the bottom substrate230. Specifically, the top substrate220A and the bottom substrate230are assembled with each other via the sealant250. The display layer240is disposed between the top substrate220A and the bottom substrate230, and is surrounded by the sealant250. The material of the display layer240may be liquid crystal material so that the top substrate220A, the bottom substrate230, the display layer140and the sealant250can serve as a liquid crystal cell.

In the present embodiment, the top substrate220A has an outer surface S4A and the patterned oxide layer260is disposed on the outer surface S4A. The patterned oxide layer260disposed on the outer surface S4A of the top substrate220A is substantially located within the second region204and exposes the first region202. The patterned light shielding layer210is formed on the outer surface S4A of the top substrate220A at the first region202without being located in the second region204. Namely, the patterned oxide layer260is only disposed at the second region204and the patterned light shielding layer210is only disposed at the first region202.

In the present embodiment, the fabrication process of the display panel200A can include the following steps, but is not limited thereto. After assembling the top substrate220A and the bottom substrate230via the sealant250to surround the display layer240, the patterned oxide layer260can be formed on the top substrate220A. Specifically, an oxide layer can be formed on the entire outer surface of the top substrate220A, a surface treatment or modification process is performed on the oxide layer and the oxide layer is further patterned to expose the first region102, such that the patterned oxide layer260having a modified surface with the hydrophobic material HB is foi wed at the second region204. Thereafter, the patterned light shielding layer210is formed on top substrate220A at the first region202via a wet process.

In the present embodiment, the patterned oxide layer260can be treated or modified to involve hydrophobic property via the surface treatment or modification process. For example, the patterned oxide layer260may be subjected to a silane surface treatment. In a microscopic view, the patterned oxide layer260can include the hydrophobic material HB thereon for having the hydrophobic property. The hydrophobic material HB includes silanes, fluorinated silanes, long-chain alcohols or acids. Specifically, the hydrophobic material HB may contain hydroxyl groups. In addition, the material of the patterned oxide layer260may include the material capable of effectively active in the surface treatment or modification process. For example, the material of the patterned oxide layer260includes aluminium oxide.

In the case the patterned light shielding layer210is fabricated on the top substrate220A via a wet process such as an inkjet printing process, an ink material is dropped on the top substrate220A in the first region202. Owing that the patterned oxide layer260provides better hydrophobic property at the second region204compared to the first region202, the ink material may evenly spread over the first region202without spill to the second region204. Thereafter, a curing process is performed to solidify the ink material to form the patterned light shielding layer210that has a sharp pattern. Particularly, the pattern of the patterned light shielding layer210may have an edge with good linearity.

FIG. 13schematically illustrates a cross section of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 13, in another embodiment, a display panel200B is similar to the display panel200A and the same or similar reference numbers in the two embodiments represent the same or similar elements or components. Specifically, the display panel200B includes a patterned light shielding layer210, a top substrate220B, a bottom substrate230, a display layer240, a sealant250, and a patterned oxide layer260, in which the functions and the dispositions of the patterned light shielding layer210, the bottom substrate230, the display layer240, the sealant250, and the patterned oxide layer260may refer to the detail description of the embodiment ofFIG. 12and are not reiterated here.

In the present embodiment, the patterned light shielding layer210is disposed on the top substrate220B at the first region202while the patterned oxide layer260is only located at the second region204and exposes the first region202. The outer surface S4B of top substrate220B may be treated or modified to include the hydrophobic material HB′ thereon and the patterned light shielding layer210is disposed on the modified outer surface S4B of the top substrate220B having the hydrophobic material HB′. The outer surface S4B of the top substrate220B though including the hydrophobic material HB′ is less hydrophobic than the surface of the patterned oxide layer260so that the patterned light shielding layer210may have a sharp pattern which has the edge with good linearity.

The fabrication process of the display panel200B can include the following steps, but is not limited thereto. After assembling the top substrate220B and the bottom substrate230via the sealant250to surround the display layer240, the patterned oxide layer260is formed on the top substrate220B. The method of forming the patterned oxide layer260may refer to the detail descriptions for the embodiment ofFIG. 12and is not reiterated here. After forming the patterned oxide layer260exposing the first region202, a further surface treatment or modification process is performed, such that the top substrate220A includes the hydrophobic material HB′ at the first region202and the patterned oxide layer260includes the hydrophobic material HB at the second region204. Thereafter, the patterned light shielding layer210is formed on top substrate220A at the first region202via a wet process.

In an embodiment, the material of the patterned oxide layer260is effectively active in the surface treatment or modification process, compared to the top substrate220B, and thus the distribution density of the hydrophobic material HB′ at the first region202is less than the distribution density of the hydrophobic material HB. For example, the material of the patterned oxide layer260includes aluminium oxide. Accordingly, in the case the patterned light shielding layer210is fabricated on the top substrate220B via a wet process such as an inkjet printing process, an ink material is dropped on the top substrate220B in the first region202. Owing that the patterned oxide layer260provides better hydrophobic property at the second region204compared to the first region202, the ink material may evenly spread over the first region202without spill to the second region204. Thereafter, a curing process can be performed to solidify the ink material to form the patterned light shielding layer210that has a sharp pattern. Particularly, the pattern of the patterned light shielding layer210can have an edge with good linearity.

In light of the foregoing, the display panel according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a patterned light shielding layer and a patterned oxide layer. The patterned oxide layer disposed at the region where the patterned light shielding layer is disposed provides a relatively hydrophilic surface and exposes another region where the patterned light shielding layer is not disposed. The patterned oxide layer disposed at the region where the patterned light shielding layer is not disposed provides a relatively hydrophobic surface and exposes another region where the patterned light shielding layer is disposed. Accordingly, the patterned light shielding layer of the display panel may be formed on top of the display panel via a wet process and have a sharp pattern to provide the desirable light shielding effect.