Patent Publication Number: US-10783825-B2

Title: Driving substrates and display panels

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of International Application PCT/CN2018/111716, filed on Oct. 24, 2018, which claims priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 201810457671.9, filed on May 14, 2018, entitled “DRIVING SUBSTRATE AND DISPLAY PANEL”, and the entire contents of the both applications are incorporated herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     As the development of mobile phones, screens of full screen mobile phones are broadly concerned due to advantages of having a larger screen ratio and a narrower bezel, which can improve visual effects for observer considerably. During a process of manufacturing a screen of the full screen mobile phone, an irregular-shape display area is generally formed on the screen with an irregular-shape design such as notching and the like. An edge of the irregular-shape display area is generally in an irregular structure such as a curved structure or the like. 
     SUMMARY 
     In view of above, it is needed to provide driving substrates and display panels in regard with the problem that bonding between a cathode and an anode of an irregular-shape non-display area of a driving substrate is uneven. 
     Provided is a driving substrate, including: 
     a substrate, comprising an irregular-shape non-display area; 
     an anode layer, located on the irregular-shape non-display area and provided with a first curved groove for encapsulating; and 
     an organic unit array, comprising a plurality of organic units, and disposed on a surface of the anode layer away from the substrate, the plurality of organic units forming a plurality of unit rows and a plurality of unit columns, distances between every two adjacent organic units in each unit row being identical, distances between every two adjacent organic units in each column row being identical, and the first curved groove being located between two organic units of the organic unit array. 
     In an embodiment, a symmetric center line of the first curved groove is a curved line, and is parallel to an edge of the irregular-shape non-display area. 
     In an embodiment, the anode layer is provided with an opening, and the organic unit is formed on an upper surface of the anode layer by deposition, and covers the opening on the anode layer. 
     In an embodiment, the organic unit is a central symmetric structure. 
     In an embodiment, the organic unit is a square structure. 
     In an embodiment, the square structure has a side length of 15 μm to 20 μm. 
     In an embodiment, the first curved groove has a width of 3 μm to 7 μm, and the distance between any two adjacent organic units is 10 μm to 22 μm. 
     In an embodiment, the first curved groove has a symmetric center line, and a distance from the symmetric center line to any one of the organic units is greater than 2 μm. 
     In an embodiment, the substrate and the anode layer have a circuit protection layer disposed therebetween, and the circuit protection layer is provided with a second curved groove corresponding to the first curved groove. 
     In an embodiment, a portion of the anode layer deposited in the second curved groove fills the second curved groove when forming the anode layer. 
     In an embodiment, the circuit protection layer is made of an organic material. 
     In an embodiment, the substrate and the circuit protection layer have a pixel drive circuit layer disposed therebetween. 
     In an embodiment, a cathode layer is formed on a surface of the organic unit array away from the substrate, and the cathode layer is bonded to the anode layer via a plurality of gaps defined between organic units of the plurality of organic units of the organic unit array. 
     In an embodiment, bonding areas of the cathode layer and the anode layer between every two adjacent organic units of the plurality of organic units are identical. 
     Provided is a display panel, including the driving substrate described above. An irregular-shape display area surrounded by the irregular-shape non-display area. 
     In an embodiment, an edge of the irregular-shape display area has a shape same as that of the first curved groove. 
     In an embodiment, the display panel is provided with a notch, and a portion of the non-display area surrounding the notch forms the irregular-shape non-display area. 
     According to the driving substrate provided by the present disclosure, since the first curved groove is located between two organic units of the organic unit array, the first curved groove is not in contact with the organic units, to avoid the organic units from falling into the first curved groove. On the basis that the organic units do not fall into the first curved groove, the distances between every two adjacent organic units in each unit row or in each unit column are identical, thus ensuring the plurality of organic units is disposed evenly in the organic unit array. The gaps between every two adjacent organic units are the same in size. Since the cathode layer is formed on the surface of the organic unit array away from the substrate, and is bonded to the anode layer via the gap between two organic units, the bonding areas of the cathode layer and the anode layer between two adjacent organic units are identical. Therefore, the problem of uneven bonding between the anode layer and the cathode layer caused by the removal of a portion of the organic units is avoided, such that the display brightness of the screen is more uniform. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a driving substrate provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial enlarged view of a driving substrate provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a driving substrate provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     In conventional processes, during manufacturing of a driving substrate, since the edge of the irregular-shape display area is in an irregular structure such as a curved structure or the like, bonding between a cathode and an anode of an irregular-shape non-display area of a driving substrate is caused to be uneven, which easily causes ununiformity of luminance of the screen, affecting viewing perception. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a driving substrate  10  including a substrate  100 , an anode layer  200  and an organic unit array  400 . The substrate  100  includes an irregular-shape non-display area  110 . The anode layer  200  is formed on the irregular-shape non-display area  110 . The anode layer  200  is provided with a first curved groove  300  for encapsulating. The organic unit array  400  is disposed on the anode layer  200 . The organic unit array  400  includes a plurality of organic units  410  spaced apart from one another. The organic units  410  are disposed on a surface of the anode layer  200  away from the substrate  100 , and the plurality of organic units  410  form a plurality of unit rows  420  and a plurality of unit columns  430 . Distances between every two adjacent organic units  410  in each unit row  420  or in each unit column  430  are identical. The first curved groove  300  is located between two organic units  410  of the organic unit array  400 . In the organic unit array  400 , the first curved groove  300  passes between any two adjacent organic units  410 . 
     The irregular-shape non-display area  110  may be a corner portion of the display panel. The corner portion may be of a curved shape or a non-right angular shape. The display panel may be provided with a notch  111 . The notch  111  may be of a shape of a circle, an oval, a semicircle or other non-linear irregular structures. A portion of the non-display area surrounding the notch  111  forms the irregular-shape non-display area  110 . The shape of the irregular-shape non-display area  110  may correspond to the shape of the notch  111 . In an embodiment, when an edge of the notch  111  is a curved line, an edge of the irregular-shape non-display area  110  is also a curve that is parallel to and corresponds to the curved line. 
     The anode layer  200  is configured to connect the cathode layer  230 . The organic unit  410  may be made of an organic material. The first curved groove  300  is configured for encapsulating. During an encapsulation process of the substrate, the first curved groove  300  can enhance the encapsulation effect. The first curved groove  300  may have a symmetric center line, which may be a curved line. The symmetric center line may be parallel to the curved edge of the irregular-shape display area  120 . In an embodiment, the organic units  410  are made of organic glue. The organic unit  410  may be formed on an upper surface of the anode layer  200  by deposition. The organic units  410  may be used to cover the opening provided on the anode layer  200 , and cover borders of the anode, so as to prevent migration of Ag in the anode. 
     During the formation of the organic unit array  400 , the organic units  410  may fall on the surface of the first curved groove  300 , thereby affecting the subsequent encapsulation effect. Therefore, to ensure the encapsulation effect, it is needed to remove the organic unit  410  falling into the first curved groove  300 . Consequently, the organic unit array  400  may be damaged. When an irregular arrangement presents in the organic unit array  400 , the bonding between the cathode layer  230  formed on the organic unit array  400  and the anode layer  200  will be uneven, thereby resulting in nonuniformity of luminance of the screen. Specially, within the regions where some organic units  410  are removed, a larger area of the anode will be formed. Since moisture in the organic glue cannot be released, problems such as bubbles in the anode or pores in the organic glue can occur. Therefore, it is important to arrange the organic unit array  400  evenly and regularly. 
     According to the driving substrate provided by the present disclosure, since the first curved groove  300  is located between any two organic units  410  of the organic unit array  400 , the first curved groove  300  is not in contact with the organic units  410 , to avoid the organic units  410  from falling into the first curved groove  300 . On the basis that the organic units  410  do not fall into the first curved groove  300 , the distances between every two adjacent organic units  410  in each unit row  420  or in each unit column  430  are identical. Therefore, the plurality of organic units  410  are disposed evenly in the organic unit array  400 . The gaps between every two adjacent organic units  410  are the same in size. Since the cathode layer  230  is formed on the surface of the organic unit array  400  away from the substrate  100 , and is bonded to the anode layer  200  via the gap between any two organic units  410 . The bonding areas of the cathode layer  230  and the anode layer  200  between every two organic units  410  are identical. Therefore, the problem of uneven bonding between the anode layer and the cathode layer caused by the removal of a portion of the organic units is avoided, such that the display brightness of the screen is more uniform. 
     In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the distances between every two adjacent organic units  410  in each unit row  420  or in each unit column  430  are identical. The first curved groove  300  passes via the organic unit array  400  between any two adjacent organic units  410 . Therefore, the first curved groove  300  is not in contact with the organic units  410 , to avoid the organic units  410  from falling into the first curved groove  300 . Therefore, the problem of uneven bonding between the anode layer  200  and the cathode layer  230  caused by the removal of a portion of the organic units  410  is avoided, such that the display brightness of the screen is more uniform. 
     In an embodiment, the organic unit  410  is in a central symmetric structure. The organic unit  410  may be of a shape of a circle, a square, a regular polygon or the like. The organic unit  410  in the central symmetric structure may be rotated along with the extension of the first curved groove  300 , to avoid the first curved groove  300  and not to change the evenness of the organic unit array  400 . 
     In an embodiment, the organic unit  410  is of a square structure. The opening formed on the anode layer  200  may be configured to increase the bonding effect of the anode layer  200  with other layers. The opening formed on the anode layer  200  may be of a shape of a square. The organic unit  410  of a square structure can match the opening, to save materials. 
     In an embodiment, the square structure has a side length of 15 μm to 20 μm. The square structure having the side length of 15 μm to 20 μm can cover the opening formed on the anode layer  200  completely, which can further save materials. 
     In an embodiment, the first curved groove  300  has a width of 3 μm to 7 μm. The distance between every two adjacent organic units  410  is 10 μm to 22 μm. The first curved groove  300  having a width of 3 μm to 7 μm can enhance the sealing effect. The distance between any two adjacent organic units  410  being 10 μm to 22 μm can result in a larger distance margin between any two adjacent organic units  410 , facilitating the first curved groove  300  to pass via the organic unit array  400 . Furthermore, the bonding between the anode layer  200  and the cathode layer  230  has a better effect. 
     In an embodiment, the distance from the symmetric center line of the first curved groove  300  to any one of the organic units  410  is greater than 2 μm. The first curved groove  300  is symmetric with respect to the symmetric center line. The distance from the symmetric center line to any one of the organic units  410  being greater than 2 μm can completely avoid the influence of the surrounding organic units  410  on encapsulating during a subsequent encapsulation process. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in an embodiment, the substrate  100  and the anode layer  200  have a circuit protection layer  210  disposed therebetween. The circuit protection layer  210  is provided with a second curved groove  310  corresponding to the first curved groove  300 . The circuit protection layer  210  may be made of an organic material. The circuit protection layer  210  can be provided with the second curved groove  310 . When the anode layer  200  is formed on a surface of the circuit protection layer  210  away from the substrate  100 , a portion of the anode layer  200  deposited in the second curved groove  310  fills the second curved groove  310 . Since a thickness of the anode layer  200  formed on the surface of the circuit protection layer  210  is the same, the first curved groove  300  is further formed on the anode layer  200 . After the second curved groove  310  is formed, the first curved groove  300  may be formed by a general process without adding any other processes, which can improve the production efficiency. 
     In an embodiment, the substrate  100  and the circuit protection organic layer have a pixel drive circuit layer  220  disposed therebetween. The pixel drive circuit layer  220  may include a gate drive circuit. 
     In an embodiment, a cathode layer  230  is formed on the surface of the organic unit array  400  away from the substrate  100 . The cathode layer  230  is bonded to the anode layer  200  via the organic unit array  400 . After the cathode layer  230  is bonded to the anode layer  200 , a power circuit layer  240  may be powered up. 
     An embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a display panel. The display panel includes the driving substrate  10 . The driving substrate  10  further includes an irregular-shape display area  120 . The irregular-shape non-display area  110  surrounds the irregular-shape display area  120 . The edge of the irregular-shape display area  120  has a shape same to that of the first curved groove  300 . The driving substrate  10  may further include a normal display area  130 . Since the first curved groove  300  passes via the organic unit array  400  between any two adjacent organic units  410 , the first curved groove  300  is not in contact with the organic units  410 , to avoid the organic units  410  from falling into the first curved groove  300 . Therefore, the problem of uneven bonding between the anode layer  200  and the cathode layer  230  caused by the removal of a portion of the organic units  410  is avoided, to improve the problem of nonuniformity of the display brightness of the screen effectively, and to cause the luminance of the display panel to be more uniform. 
     All of the technical features in the embodiments can be employed in arbitrary combinations. For purpose of simplifying the description, not all arbitrary combinations of the technical features in the embodiments illustrated above are described. However, as long as such combinations of the technical features are not contradictory, they should be considered as within the scope of the disclosure in the specification. 
     The above embodiments are merely illustrative of several implementations of the disclosure, and the description thereof is more specific and detailed, but should not be deemed as limitations to the scope of the present disclosure. It should be noted that variations and improvements will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from its scope. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims.