Patent Publication Number: US-2023136816-A1

Title: Display panel and method for manufacturing the same, and display apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202211329275.0, filed on Oct. 27, 2022, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of display technologies, and in particular, to a display panel, a method for manufacturing a display panel, and a display apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Current large-sized display panels, such as billboards, are typically formed by splicing multiple small-sized display units together. In order to realize communication between the display units, the adapter plates are provided at the splicing position of display units for connection. Due to the presence of the adapter plates, relatively large gaps are formed at the splicing position of the display units, which may form a display dark fringe, thereby affecting the display. 
     SUMMARY 
     In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a display panel. In some embodiments, the display panel includes a cover and a display unit array that are opposite to each other. The display unit array may include at least two display units that are spliced together. Each of the at least two display units may include: a pixel region, a peripheral region at least partially surrounding the pixel region, and pins arranged in the peripheral region. The cover may include connection electrodes. In some embodiments, at an at least one splicing position, the pins of two adjacent display units of the at least two display units are electrically connected by a connection electrode of the connection electrodes. 
     In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a display apparatus including a display panel. The display panel may include a cover and a display unit array that are opposite to each other. The display unit array may include at least two display units that are spliced together. Each of the at least two display units includes a pixel region, a peripheral region at least partially surrounding the pixel region, and pins arranged in the peripheral region. The cover includes connection electrodes. In some embodiments, at an at least one splicing position, the pins of two adjacent display units of the at least two display units are electrically connected by a connection electrode of the connection electrodes. 
     In a third aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a display panel. The method may include providing a substrate, and forming connection electrodes on the substrate to form a cover including the connection electrodes, providing at least two display units, where each of the display units includes a pixel region, a peripheral region at least partially surrounding the pixel region, and pins arranged in the peripheral region; and aligning and attaching the at least two display units to the cover in such a manner that the at least two display units are spliced to form a display unit array. The display unit array is opposite to the cover. At an at least one splicing position, the pins of two adjacent display units are electrically connected by a connection electrode of the connection electrodes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments are briefly described below. The drawings described below are merely a part of the embodiments of the present disclosure. The accompanying drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the present disclosure, and other accompanying drawings can be obtained in accordance with these drawings for those skilled in the art. 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic diagram of a display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic diagram of a cover of a display panel provided in embodiments of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic diagram of a display unit array of a display panel provided in embodiments of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a partial schematic view of another display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    is another cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E′ shown in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  8    is another cross-sectional view taken along line E-E′ shown in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  9    is another cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  10    is a top view of a cover of another display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  11    is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ shown in  FIG.  10   ; 
         FIG.  12    is another cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ shown in  FIG.  10   ; 
         FIG.  13    is another cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  14 A  is a schematic diagram of another display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  14 B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line F-F′ shown in  FIG.  14 A ; 
         FIG.  15    is a schematic diagram of another display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  16    is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C′ shown in  FIG.  15   ; 
         FIG.  17    is a schematic diagram of another display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  18    is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D′ shown in  FIG.  17   ; 
         FIG.  19    is a schematic diagram of another display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  20    is a schematic diagram of another display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  21    is a schematic diagram of another display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  22    is another cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  23    is a schematic diagram of another display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  24    is a schematic diagram of a display apparatus provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  25    is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  26    is a flowchart of another method for manufacturing a display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  27    is a flowchart of another method for manufacturing a display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  28    is a flowchart of another method for manufacturing a display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  29    is a flowchart of another method for manufacturing a display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure, and it is clear that the embodiments described are some embodiments of the embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than all embodiments of the present disclosure. Based on the embodiments in the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure. 
     The terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are merely for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and not intended to limit the present disclosure. Unless otherwise noted in the context, the expressions “a”, “an”, “the” and “the” in a singular form used in the embodiments and appended claims of the present disclosure are also intended to represent a plural form. 
     The present disclosure provides a splicing display panel. In some embodiments, connection electrodes are provided on a cover, and at a splicing position of two display units, pins of the two display units are electrically connected through the connection electrode, so that the connection electrodes on the cover can be used to realize the communication between the spliced display units without providing the adapter plate between the adjacent display units, which can reduce the splicing gap between the adjacent display units, reduce dark fringe and improve display effect. 
       FIG.  1    is a schematic diagram of a display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG.  2    is a schematic diagram of a cover of the display panel provided by some embodiments of  FIG.  1   .  FIG.  3    is a schematic diagram of a display unit array of the display panel provided by some embodiments of  FIG.  1   .  FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1  to  3   , the display panel includes a cover  10  and a display unit array  20 Z that are opposite to each other. The display unit array  20 Z includes at least two display units  20  spliced together.  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  3    schematically illustrate that the display unit array  20 Z includes four display units  20  arranged in a matrix of two rows and two columns. 
     The cover  10  includes multiple connection electrodes  11 , that is, the connection electrodes  11  are formed on the cover  10 . Adjacent connection electrodes  11  are insulated from each other. The position of the connection electrode  11  corresponds to a splicing position between the display units  20  (i.e., a position where the display units  20  are spliced). 
     The display unit  20  has a pixel region AA and a peripheral region BA at least partially surrounding the pixel region AA. At least one display unit  20  includes multiple pins  21  arranged in the peripheral region BA. Multiple light-emitting elements are arranged in the pixel region AA, and the light-emitting elements include at least three light-emitting elements emitting light of at least three colors including red, green, and blue. In some embodiments, the light-emitting elements are not limited to red light-emitting element, green light-emitting element, and blue light-emitting element, and can also include at least one light-emitting element emitting light of another color. In other embodiments, the light-emitting elements in the pixel region AA include light-emitting elements emitting light of two colors, or light-emitting elements emitting light of one color. The light-emitting elements are organic light-emitting diodes or inorganic light-emitting diodes. 
     In other embodiments, the display unit  20  is a liquid crystal display panel, and liquid crystal molecules, common electrodes, pixel electrodes and so on are provided in the pixel region AA. As shown in  FIG.  4   , the display unit  20  includes a substrate  23 , and the light-emitting element  22  is located on a side of the substrate  23  close to the cover  10 . The display unit  20  also includes a driver layer (not shown in the figures), and the driver layer is disposed between the substrate  23  and the light-emitting element  22 . The driver layer includes multiple pixel circuits, and the pixel circuits are configured to drive the light-emitting elements  22  to emit light. A splicing gap S between two adjacent display units  20  is also illustrated in  FIG.  4   . 
     It can be seen from  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  4    that at an at least one splicing position, the pins  21  of two adjacent display units  20  are electrically connected by the connection electrode  11 . That is, one end of the connection electrode  11  is electrically connected to a pin  21  of one display unit  20  of the two adjacent display units  20 , and another end of the connection electrode  11  is electrically connected to a pin  21  located on the other display unit  20  of the two adjacent display units  20 . The pins  21  located on two adjacent display units  20  are connected to each other through the connection electrode  11 , realizing communication between the two adjacent display units  20 . 
     The display panel provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure includes at least two display units  20  that are spliced together, and the pins  21  of the at least two spliced display units  20  are electrically connected through the connection electrodes  11  of the cover  10 , so that the connection electrodes  11  of the cover  10  can be used to realize the communication between the spliced display units  20  without providing the adapter plate between the adjacent display units  20 , which can reduce the splicing seam between the adjacent display units  20 , reduce the dark fringe and improve the display effect. The connection electrodes  11  are formed on the cover  10 , so that the connection electrodes  11  are manufactured with high precision, and the manufacturing process of the connection electrodes  11  does not affect the structure of the display unit  20 . For example, when the connection electrode  11  is formed with a high-precision etching process, the etching solution used in the manufacturing process of the connection electrodes  11  negatively affecting the structure of the display unit  20 , can be avoided. 
     In some embodiments, in conjunction with  FIGS.  1  to  3   , two pins  21  electrically connected by the connection electrode  11  are aligned with each other in a direction along which the connection electrode  11  extends. That is, the two pins  21  electrically connected to each other are arranged in the same direction as the extending direction of the connection electrode  11 . Such configuration facilitates the alignment between the connection electrode  11  and the two pins  21 , reduces the difficulty of aligning and connecting the connection electrode  11  with the pins  21 , and simplifies the process. 
     A shape of the pin  21  is shown as a rectangle in  FIG.  3   , and the shape of the pin  21  is not limited in the embodiments of the disclosure.  FIG.  5    is a partial schematic diagram of another display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG.  5    merely illustrates a partial position where two display units  20  are spliced together. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  5   , the pin  21  of the display unit  20  is substantially round, For a display unit  20 A, the pins  21  located at a side of the pixel region are arranged in a direction a. At a splicing position between two adjacent display units  20 , two connected pins  21  of the two adjacent display units  20  are arranged in a direction b, and the two connected pins  21  are aligned with each other in the direction b. The direction a intersects with the direction b. In some embodiments, the direction a is perpendicular to the direction b. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates only the pixel region AA of each display unit  20  and does not illustrate the light-emitting elements in the pixel region AA. When multiple display units  20  are spliced together, the pixel regions AA of these display units  20  together form a display region of the display panel. In some embodiments, in a direction along which the light-emitting elements are arranged, a spacing between adjacent light-emitting elements that are respectively located in two display units  20  is equal to a spacing between adjacent two light-emitting elements located in one display unit  20 , then the splicing position between two adjacent display units  20  is basically invisible the display panel displays images, which can improve the overall visual effect. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  4   , the cover  10  includes a substrate  13 , and the connection electrodes  11  are in direct contact with the substrate  13 . No adhesive layer is utilized to connect the connection electrodes  11  with the substrate  13 . In the embodiments, the connection electrode  11  is formed directly on the substrate  13  using a film-forming and etching process. The connection electrodes  11  are formed with a high-precision etching process, so that the connection electrodes  11  are formed with a high precision, and the process of forming the connection electrodes  11  does not affect the structure of the display units  20 . 
       FIG.  6    is another cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ shown in  FIG.  1   .  FIG.  6    illustrates the splicing position between two display units  20 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  6   , the cover  10  includes a substrate  13 , and a light-blocking layer  14  is provided between the connection electrodes  11  and the substrate  13 . The light-blocking layer  14  has the function of blocking ambient light. The light-blocking layer  14  is made of a light-absorbing material. When at least one of the connection electrode  11  or the pin  21  includes metal material and the ambient light is incident to the splicing position, the structure made of metal material may reflect the ambient light, resulting in reflection at the splicing position and affecting the visual effect. The light-blocking layer  14  blocks the ambient light, which prevents the reflections at the splicing position. 
     When manufacturing the cover  10 , a substrate  13  is provided, and the light-blocking layer  14  is first formed on the substrate  13 , and then the connection electrode  11  is formed on the light-blocking layer  14  so that the connection electrode  11  overlap with the light-blocking layer  14 . 
     In some embodiments, an orthographic projection of the connection electrode  11  on a plane of the light-blocking layer  14  is within the light-blocking layer  14 . In this way, the light blocking layer  14  can be used to completely shade the connection electrode  11 , which prevents the connection electrode  11  from reflecting ambient light. 
       FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E′ shown in  FIG.  2   .  FIG.  7    illustrates an electrode region where multiple connection electrodes  11  are arranged along a same direction. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  7   , the connection electrodes  11  correspond to the light-blocking layers  14  in a one-to-one correspondence. Such configuration can reduce a total coverage area of the light-blocking layers  14 , which can improve an overall light transmission rate of the display panel when applied in a transparent display. 
       FIG.  8    is another cross-sectional view taken along line E-E′ shown in  FIG.  2   .  FIG.  8    illustrates an electrode region where multiple connection electrodes  11  arranged in a same direction. In other embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  8   , the electrode region corresponds to one light-blocking layer  14 , and the light-blocking layer  14  corresponds to all the connection electrodes  11  within the electrode region. In the embodiments, the light-blocking layer  14  is formed without high-precision etching, which can reduce the difficulty of forming the light-blocking layer  14  and simplify the process. 
       FIG.  9    is another cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ shown in  FIG.  1   .  FIG.  9    illustrates the position where the two display units  20  are spliced to each other. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  9   , at an at least one splicing position, the pins  21  and the connection electrodes  11  are connected by a conductive structure  30 . The conductive structure  30  includes at least one of a solder ball, a eutectic layer, or an anisotropic conductive adhesive. 
     In some embodiments, the solder ball or the eutectic layer is formed on the pin  21  of the display unit  20  when manufacturing the display panel, and the solder ball or the eutectic layer is used to electrically connect the pin  21  and the connection electrode  11  when the display unit  20  and the cover  10  are aligned and attached to each other. 
     In some embodiments, the anisotropic conductive adhesive is coated on the pin  21  of the display unit  20  when manufacturing the display panel, and conductive particles in the anisotropic conductive adhesive electrically connect the pin  21  and the connection electrode  11  due to compression when the display unit  20  and the cover  10  are aligned and attached to each other. 
     In some embodiments, taking  FIG.  2    as an example, the cover  10  has at least one electrode region Q.  FIG.  2    illustrates that the cover  10  has four electrode regions Q, and the four electrode regions Q correspond to four splicing positions in one-to-one correspondence. It can be seen from  FIG.  1    that the electrode region Q is opposite to the splicing position between two adjacent display units  20 . 
       FIG.  10    is a top view of a cover of another display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG.  11    is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ shown in  FIG.  10   . As shown in  FIG.  10   , multiple connection electrodes  11  that are aligned in a same direction are provided in an electrode region, and an insulation part  12  is provided between adjacent connection electrodes  11  and is configured to space apart two adjacent connection electrodes  11  from each other to prevent the connection electrodes  11  from short-circuit. As shown in  FIG.  11   , the cover  10  includes a substrate  13 , the connection electrodes  11  are located on a side of the substrate  13 , both the connection electrodes  11  and the insulation part  12  are formed with an etching process, and the insulation part  12  is located between the adjacent connection electrodes  11 . The connection electrode  11  is made of a metal material or a transparent conductive material. The material of the connection electrode  11  includes, but is not limited to, copper, molybdenum, aluminum, titanium, magnesium, indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, zinc oxide, and indium oxide. The insulation part  12  is made of an inorganic material including, but not limited to, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride. 
       FIG.  12    is another cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ shown in  FIG.  10   . In other embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  12   , the cover  10  includes a substrate  13 , the substrate  13  is etched to form protrusions  131 , a recess is formed between adjacent protrusions  131 , the connection electrode  11  is fabricated in the recess, and the insulation part  12  is formed by the protrusion  131  to space the adjacent connection electrodes  11  apart from each other. In the embodiments, the insulation part  12  and the substrate  13  are formed into one piece. 
     In some embodiments, the pin  21  is made of a metal material or a transparent conductive material, and the material of the pins  21  includes, but is not limited to, copper, molybdenum, aluminum, titanium, magnesium, indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, zinc oxide, and indium oxide. 
     In some embodiments, the pin  21  and the connection electrode  11  include a same material, which can reduce the variety of raw materials and simplify the process. 
     In some embodiments, both the pin  21  and the connection electrode  11  include a metal material. In the embodiments, a light-blocking layer  14  can be provided between the connection electrode  11  and the substrate  13  and be configured to absorb light to prevent reflection of ambient light at the connection electrode  11  and the pin  21 . 
     In some embodiments, both the pin  21  and the connection electrode  11  include a transparent conductive material. The overall light transmission of the display panel can be improved when the embodiments are used in transparent display. 
       FIG.  13    is another cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ shown in  FIG.  1   . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  13   , the display panel includes an adhesive layer  40  through which the display unit  20  is bonded to the cover  10 . The adhesive layer  40  is an optically clear adhesive. The adhesive layer  40  fills a gap between the display unit  20  and the cover  10 . The embodiments of the present disclosure use the connection electrodes  11  on the cover  10  to provide a conduction path and realize the communication between the spliced display units without providing an adapter plate between adjacent display units  20  for connection, which can reduce the splicing gap between adjacent display units  20 , reduce the dark fringe and improve the display effect. At the same time, with the configuration where the display unit  20  is bonded to the cover  10  through the adhesive layer  40 , each display unit  20  is fixedly bonded to cover  10  so that multiple display units  20  are spliced into a whole. An opposite area between each display unit  20  and cover  10  is relatively large, then an overall area of the adhesive layer  40  is relatively large. With the adhesive layer  40 , the mechanical stability of a whole spliced structure of the display panel is ensured. 
     With the embodiments of the present disclosure where the display units  20  are spliced on a same cover  10 , the light-emitting elements of the display units  20  have a good consistency of light-emitting height, which can improve the brightness uniformity. 
     In some embodiments, taking the display panel as a whole, the adhesive layer  40  is a patterned structure, and one patterned adhesive layer  40  is formed between each display unit  20  and the cover  10 . 
     In other embodiments, the adhesive layers  40  between the display units  20  and the cover  10  are connected to each other. That is, when taking the display panel as a whole, the adhesive layer  40  is a whole layer, which can increase the bonding area of the adhesive layer  40  between the cover  10  and the display unit array and improve the mechanical stability of the overall structure. When manufacturing the display panel, the entire surface of the cover  10  close to the display units  20  can be coated with the adhesive layer  40  while avoiding the locations of the connection electrodes  11 , and then the cover  10  coated with the adhesive layer  40  is aligned and attached to the display unit  20 . 
       FIG.  14 A  is a schematic diagram of another display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG.  14 B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line F-F′ shown in  FIG.  14 A . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  14 A , the display panel includes six display units  20  arranged in a matrix of two rows and three columns. As shown in  FIG.  14 B , the cover  10  includes a substrate  13 , and a side of the substrate  13  close to the display unit array  20 Z is provided with a protruding part T protruding from a surface of the substrate  13  towards the display units  20 , and the connection electrode  11  overlaps with the protruding part T in a direction e perpendicular to a plane of the substrate  13 . The protruding part T is a protruding structure on the surface of the substrate  13 , and a recessed region is formed between adjacent protruding parts T. In some embodiments, the pixel region AA in the display unit  20  is opposite to the recessed region. During the manufacturing process, the substrate  13  can be etched to form the protruding part T, and then the connection electrode  11  can be fabricated on the protruding part T so that the connection electrode  11  and the protruding part T overlap. In this way, the connection electrode  11  can be in contact with the region where the pin  21  is located first when the cover  10  and the display unit  20  are attached to each other in alignment, which facilitates attaching and bonding. In the embodiments, the pixel region AA is accommodated in the recessed region located between adjacent protruding parts T, which facilitates the thinning of the overall thickness of the display panel. 
       FIG.  15    is a schematic diagram of another display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure, and  FIG.  16    is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C′ shown in  FIG.  15   . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  15   , the display panel also includes a driver structure  50  bonded on a periphery of the display unit array  20 Z. As shown in  FIG.  16   , the driver structure  50  is bonded to the display unit  20  located at an edge of the display unit array  20 Z, and the driver structure  50  is bonded to the pin  21  located at the edge of the display unit  20 . The driver structure  50  can be a flexible circuit board, and a driver chip  51  is fixed on the driver structure  50 . In the embodiments, the driver structure  50  is bonded on the periphery of the display unit array  20 Z, and the position where the driver structure  50  is bonded does not occupy a space of the back of the display unit  20 , and it is applied in the transparent display to improve the light transmission rate of the display panel and improve the visual effect. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  15   , the driver structures  50  include a first driver structure  50   x  bonded to at least one side of the display unit array in the first direction x, and a second driver structure  50   y  bonded to at least one side of the driver structure  50  in the second direction y. The first direction x and the second direction y intersect. The display unit  20  includes selecting lines each extending along the first direction x, and data lines each extending along the second direction y. The first driver structure  50   x  is configured to provide signals to the selecting lines, and the second driver structure  50   y  is configured to provide signals to the data lines. 
     In some embodiments, the selecting lines include a gate signal line and a light-emitting control signal line. The display unit includes multiple pixel circuits. The pixel circuit includes a driving transistor, a data writing transistor, a gate reset transistor, and a light-emitting control transistor. A gate of the data writing transistor and a gate of the gate reset transistor are electrically connected to the gate signal line, and a gate of the light-emitting control transistor is electrically connected to the light-emitting control signal line. An input terminal of the data writing transistor is electrically connected to the data line. 
     In other embodiments, the display unit includes multiple pixel switches and multiple pixel electrodes, the selecting lines include a gate signal line, a gate of the pixel switch is electrically connected to the gate signal line, an input terminal of the pixel switch is electrically connected to the data line, and an output terminal of the pixel switch is electrically connected to the pixel electrode. 
       FIG.  15    exemplarily illustrates that the display unit array includes four display units  20  arranged in a matrix of two rows and two columns. In some embodiments, the pins  21  of two adjacent display units  20  arranged in the first direction x are electrically connected to each other through the connection electrode  11  on the cover  10 , and the pins  21  of two adjacent display units  20  arranged in the second direction y are electrically connected to each other through the connection electrode  11  on the cover  10 . The first driver structure  50   x  is configured to drive the selecting lines in the two display units  20  that are arranged in the first direction x, and the second driver structure  50   y  is configured to drive the data lines in the two display units  20  that are arranged in the second direction y, which can realize synchronization of the signals of the display units  20  arranged in the first direction x and realize synchronization of the signals of the display units  20  arranged in the second direction y. 
       FIG.  17    is a schematic diagram of another display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure, and  FIG.  18    is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D′ shown in  FIG.  17   . In conjunction with  FIG.  17    and  FIG.  18   , at a side of the display unit array in the first direction x where no driver structure  50  is bonded, the display unit  20  includes a pin that is floated; and at a side of the display unit array in the second direction y where no driver structure  50  is bonded, another display unit  20  includes a pin that is floated. As shown in  FIG.  18   , the adhesive layer  40  covers the floated pins  21  at an edge of the display panel, so that the adhesive layer  40  protects the floated pins  21 . In the embodiments, pins  21  are provided at multiple edges around the display unit  20 , so there is no need to provide special design for the display units  20  spliced at the edge of the display unit array, and all display units  20  can be manufactured in a same process. When splicing multiple display units  20 , there is no need to select specific display units  20  for different locations in the display unit array (e.g., edge and center), simplifying the process. 
     In some embodiments, the display units  20  are rectangular, and pins  21  are provided at all four sides of each display unit  20 , so that all display units  20  can be manufactured in a same process, simplifying the manufacturing process of the display unit  20 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  18   , an edge B 1  of the pin  21  is recessed inward with respect to an edge B 2  of the display unit  20 . Such configuration ensures that the sides of the display panel do not expose the edges of the pins  21  and prevents the pins  21  from being corroded. 
     In other embodiments, the edge B 1  of the pin  21  is recessed inwards relative to the edge B 2  of the display unit  20 , which also prevents the pins  21  from contacting each other to avoid short-circuit between the pins  21  at the splicing positions. For example, when two adjacent pins  21  of two display units  20  do not correspond to each other, that is, when signal lines in the display units  20  respectively electrically connected to the two pins  21  transmit different signals, the two pins  21  can be prevented from contacting with each other to prevent short-circuit, which avoiding signal misalignment and does not affect the display. For another example, when two display units  20  are spliced and the pin  21  of one display unit  20  overlap with two pins  21  of the other display unit  20 , the inward-offset arrangement of the edge B 1  of the pin  21  relative to the edge B 2  of the display unit  20  can also avoid that the pin  21  of one display unit  20  is connected to the two pins  21  of the other display unit  20 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  15   , for any splicing position in the display unit array, the pins  21  of two adjacent display units  20  are electrically connected to each other by the connection electrode  11 . In these embodiments, the connection electrodes  11  of the cover  10  provide a conduction path to realize communication between the spliced display units, which can reduce the splicing gap between the adjacent display units  20 , reduce the dark fringe, and improve the display effect. Direct communication between adjacent display units  20  in the embodiments achieves synchronization of signals of multiple display units  20  in the display panel. 
       FIG.  19    is a schematic diagram of another display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG.  19   , still taking the display unit array including four display units  20  as an example, it can be seen that each of two sides, opposite in the first direction x, of the display unit array is bonded with the driver structure  50 , and each of two sides, opposite in the second direction y, of the display unit array is bonded with the driver structure  50 . At any splicing position in the display unit array, the pins  21  of two adjacent display units  20  are electrically connected to each other by the connection electrode  11 . In the embodiments, the signals of multiple display units  20  in the display panel are synchronized, and a bilateral and simultaneous driving is adopted at both the first direction x and the second direction y, which can improve the uniformity of display at all positions of the display panel. Taking the display units  20  arranged in the first direction x as an example and taking the display panel as a whole, the driver structures  50  provided at both sides of the first direction x provide signals to the selecting lines from both sides, which can reduce the signal differences on the selecting lines of the display units  20  arranged in the first direction x and improve the display uniformity. 
       FIG.  20    is a schematic diagram of another display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  20   , the driver structures  50  are bonded to both sides of the display unit array in the first direction x. The display panel includes a first display unit  20 - 1  and a second display unit  20 - 2  spliced together. The first display unit  20 - 1  and the second display unit  20 - 2  are adjacent and spliced in the first direction x, and the pins  21  of the first display unit  20 - 1  are disconnected from the pins  21  of the second display unit  20 - 2  at a position where the first display unit  20 - 1  and the second display unit  20 - 2  are spliced. In the embodiments, the first display unit  20 - 1  and the second display unit  20 - 2  do not communicate with each other through the pins  21 , the first display unit  20 - 1  is driven by a driver structure  50  bonded to a left side of the display unit array, and the second display unit  20 - 2  is driven by another driver structure  50  bonded to a right side of the display unit array, so that a bilateral driving of the display panel in the first direction x can be realized, and the display of the first display unit  20 - 1  can be independent from the display of the second display unit  20 - 2 , thereby increasing the display application scenarios of the display panel. 
       FIG.  21    is a schematic diagram of another display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  21   , the driver structures  50  are bonded to two sides of the display unit array in the first direction x. The display panel includes a third display unit  20 - 3  and a fourth display unit  20 - 4  that are spliced. The third display unit  20 - 3  and the fourth display unit  20 - 4  are adjacent and spliced in the first direction x. The third display unit  20 - 3  and fourth display unit  20 - 4  are not provided with pins  21  at the splicing position of the third display unit  20 - 3  and the fourth display unit  20 - 4 . In the embodiments, the third display unit  20 - 3  and the fourth display unit  20 - 4  do not communicate with each other via the pins  21 , the third display unit  20 - 3  is driven by the driver structure  50  bonded to the left side of the display unit array, and the fourth display unit  20 - 4  is driven by the driver structure  50  bonded to the right side of the display unit array. Such configuration can enable the display panel to be driven at both sides of the first direction x. The display of the third display unit  20 - 3  and the display of the fourth display unit  20 - 4  can be independent from each other, which can increase the display application scenarios of the display panel. In the embodiments, the pins  21  are provided only at the splicing position where communication connection is required, and no pins  21  are provided at the splicing position where communication connection is not required, which can save the raw manufacturing materials. 
     The above embodiments illustrate a display panel including four display units. In other embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  14 A , the display panel includes six display units  20  arranged in a matrix of two rows and three columns, driver structures  50  are bonded to one side of the display unit array in the first direction x, and other driver structures  50  are bonded to one side of the display unit array in the second direction y. At any splicing position, the pins  21  of two display units  20  are electrically connected to each other through the connection electrode  11  on the cover  10 . In the embodiments, any two adjacent display units  20  can communicate with each other. Multiple display units  20  arranged in the first direction x can be driven by a driver structure  50  bonded in the first direction x, and multiple display units  20  arranged in the second direction y can be driven by a driver structure bonded in the second direction y.  FIG.  14 A  illustrates that the display panel is driven in a unilateral driving manner. 
     In other embodiments, for a display panel including six display units  20  arranged in a matrix of two rows and three columns, when the driver structures  50  are bonded to both sides of the display unit array in the first direction x, and/or when the driver structures  50  are bonded to both sides of the display unit array in the second direction y, the display panel is driven in a bilateral driving manner, which is not illustrated in figures herein. 
     Referring to the embodiments of  FIG.  20    and  FIG.  21   , at least two adjacent display units  20  of the six display units  20  arranged in a matrix of two rows and three columns do not communicate with each other, so that different display regions of the display panel can be displayed independently of each other. 
     The number of display units  20  in the embodiments of the present disclosure is not limited, and the display panel includes n*m display units  20  arranged in a matrix of n rows and m columns, where n and m are positive integers, and n and m are not equal to one at the same time. 
       FIG.  22    shows another cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ shown in  FIG.  1   . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  22   , the splicing gap between the adjacent display units  20  is filled with adhesive material  60 . The adhesive layer  40  is interposed between the display units  20  and the cover  10 . The adhesive layer  40  is used for bonding the display units  20  and the cover  10  that are opposite to each other, and the adhesive material  60  is used for bonding sidewalls of the spliced display units  20 , which makes the display panel as a whole be spliced more firmly. 
     In some embodiments, a material of the adhesive material  60  is the same as the material of the adhesive layer  40 . 
     In some embodiments, when manufacturing the display panel, in the process of attaching the display unit  20  and the cover  10 , the adhesive layer  40  used to bond the display unit  20  and the cover  10  is dispersed into the splicing gap between the adjacent display units  20  to form the adhesive material  60 . 
     In some embodiments, the cutting process is more precise, and the edges of the display unit  20  are narrow after cutting, so that the splicing gap between the two adjacent display units  20  are very small, which can be regarded that no splicing gap is formed between the two adjacent display units  20 . 
     In the above embodiments, the display unit  20  is shown as a rectangle.  FIG.  23    is a schematic diagram of another display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  23   , the display panel is circular, and the display panel includes multiple sector-shaped display units  20 . At at least one splicing position, the pins  21  of two adjacent display units  20  are electrically connected to each other through the connection electrode  11  on the cover. Driver structures  50  are bonded to a periphery of the display unit array. At least one side of the display unit array in the first direction x each is bonded with one driver structures  50 , and at least one side of the display unit array in the second direction y each is bonded with another driver structures  50 . In the irregular-shaped display panel (i.e., non-rectangular display panel) illustrated in  FIG.  23   , each display unit  20  also includes selecting lines and data lines that are supplied with signals. In an example where the selecting line each extend along the first direction x and the data lines each extend along the second direction y, the first direction x and the second direction y are perpendicular to each other. The driver structure  50  is bonded to at least one side of the display unit array in the first direction x. Thus, it is understood that the driver structure  50  is bonded to at least one side of an extending direction of the selecting line. The driver structure  50  is bonded to at least one side of the display unit array in the second direction y. Thus, it is understood that the driver structure  50  is bonded to at least one side of an extending direction of the data line. 
       FIG.  23    illustrates that four display units  20  are spliced together to form a substantially circular display unit array, and a splicing gap between two adjacent display units  20  are parallel to the first direction x or the second direction y. In other embodiments, five or more sector-shaped display units  20  are spliced together to form a substantially circular display unit array, and a splicing gap between two adjacent display units  20  is parallel to neither the first direction x nor the second direction y. 
     In some embodiments, the display unit  20  can also be triangular or have other shapes, and the shape of the display unit  20  can be designed according to the shape of the display panel formed by the final spliced the display unit  20 . 
     Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display apparatus, and  FIG.  24    is a schematic diagram of a display apparatus provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG.  24   , the display apparatus includes a display panel  100  provided by any embodiment of the present disclosure. The structure of the display panel  100  has been described in the above embodiments and will not be repeated herein. The display apparatus provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure can be, for example, a large-sized display apparatus, such as an information bulletin board or a billboard. The display apparatus can also be applied to scenarios with a transparent display, such as a store window, a window of a building and a window of a vehicle, or a transparent television. 
     Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for manufacturing a display panel, and the method can be used to manufacture the display panel provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiments of the method for manufacturing a display panel can be understood in conjunction with the above embodiments of the display panel. 
       FIG.  25    is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG.  25   , the method includes steps S 101 , S 102 , and S 103 . 
     At step S 101 , a substrate  13  is provided, and connection electrodes  11  are formed on the substrate  13  to form a cover  10  including the connection electrodes  11 . The positions of the connection electrodes  11  are set according to predetermined splicing positions. In an example where four display units are predetermined to be spliced together, four electrode regions are formed on the substrate  13 , and multiple connection electrodes  11  that are insulated from each other are provided in each electrode region. 
     In some embodiments, the connection electrodes  11  are fabricated on the substrate  13  using a patterning process. The connection electrodes  11  are fabricated with a high precision, and the fabricating process of the connection electrodes  11  does not affect the structure of the display unit  20 . 
     At step S 102 , at least two display units  20  are provided, where each display unit  20  has a pixel region AA, a peripheral region BA at least partially surrounding the pixel region AA, and multiple pins  21  provided in the peripheral region BA. The display unit  20  is shown in a rectangular shape, the pins  21  are formed at all four sides of the display unit  20 , and the number of the pins  21  is set according to specific needs. Multiple light-emitting elements are provided in the pixel region AA and are organic light-emitting elements or inorganic light-emitting elements. In other embodiments, the display unit  20  is a liquid crystal display panel, and liquid crystal molecules, common electrodes, and pixel electrodes are provided in the pixel region AA. 
     At step S 103 , the at least two display units  20  are aligned with and attached to the cover  10  so that the at least two display units  20  are spliced to form a display unit array, and the display unit array is opposite to the cover  1 . At the at least one splicing position, the pins  21  of two adjacent display units  20  are electrically connected to each other by the connection electrode  11 . 
     The embodiment of the present disclosure does not limit the sequence of step S 101  and step S 102 , and the sequence of step S 101  and step S 102  can be interchanged, or step S 101  and step S 102  can be performed simultaneously.  FIG.  25    illustrates that the cover  10  may be formed first. 
     In the method for manufacturing the display panel provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, the connection electrodes  11  are formed on the cover  10 , and the connection electrodes  11  are utilized to provide conduction paths for realizing communication between the spliced display units without setting an adapter plate between adjacent display units  20  for connection, which can reduce the splicing gap between adjacent display units  20 , reduce the dark fringe, and improve the display effect. 
       FIG.  26    is a flowchart of another method for manufacturing a display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure, and the method provided by the embodiments of  FIG.  26    can be understood in conjunction with the embodiments of  FIG.  25   . In some embodiments, the method includes steps S 101 , S 102 , S 1031 , and S 1032 . 
     At step S 101 , a substrate  13  is provided, and connection electrodes  11  are formed on the substrate  13  to form a cover  10  including the connection electrodes  11 . 
     At step S 102 , at least two display units  20  are provided, where each display unit  20  has a pixel region AA, a peripheral region BA at least partially surrounding the pixel region AA, and multiple pins  21  in the peripheral region BA. 
     The step S 103  of aligning and attaching the at least two display units  20  to the cover  10  is illustrated in  FIG.  26    and includes Steps S 1031  and S 1032 . 
     At step S 1031 , the at least two display units  20  are pre-spliced to each other to form a splicing array Y 20 .  FIG.  26    schematically illustrates that four display units  20  are spliced to each other to form a 2*2 splicing array Y 20 . 
     At step S 1032 , the splicing array Y 20  is aligned with and attached to the cover  10 , and at at least one splicing position, the pins  21  of the two adjacent display units  20  are electrically connected to each other by the connection electrode  11 . 
     In the method for manufacturing the display panel provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least two display units  20  are first pre-spliced together to form the splicing array Y 20 , and then the splicing array Y 20  as a whole is aligned and attached to the cover  10 , so that the process for bonding the pins  21  and the connection electrodes  11  at all splicing positions can be completed in one step, which can improve the yield. 
     In some embodiments, the method also includes the process of bonding the driver structures. In some embodiments, after step S 1031  of forming the splicing array Y 20 , the driver structures are bonded to target positions, and after bonding the driver structures, step S 1032  is performed. 
       FIG.  27    shows a flowchart of another method for manufacturing a display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  27   , the step S 103  of aligning and attaching the at least two display units  20  to the cover  10  includes: aligning and attaching the at least two display units  20  to the cover  10 .  FIG.  27    illustrates only the step of aligning two display units  20  to the cover  10  one by one. In the method for manufacturing the display panel provided by the embodiments, the display units  20  are aligned and attached to the cover  10  one by one, and the processes for bonding the pins  21  and the connection electrodes  11  at the splicing positions between the display units  20  are performed separately, and each bonding process is performed corresponding to only one electrode region, which can ensure the accuracy of the alignment and bonding. 
     In some embodiments, the method also includes, after step S 103  of aligning and attaching the at least two display units  20  to the cover  10 , injecting an adhesive layer  40  between the display unit array and the cover  10  opposite to the display unit array so that a gap between each display unit  20  and the cover  10  is filled by the adhesive layer  40 . The display panel manufactured with the method provided by the embodiments can be referred to in the structure of the above embodiments of  FIG.  13   . The adhesive layer  40  has a good fluidity during the manufacturing process and is able to fill the gap between each display unit  20  and the cover  10 . Part of the adhesive layer  40  may fill the splicing gap between two adjacent display units  20 , so that sidewalls of display units  20  are bonded to each other at the splicing position. In the embodiments, each display unit  20  is fixedly bonded to the cover  10  by the adhesive layer  40 , so that multiple display units  20  can be spliced together to one piece. An opposite area between each display unit  20  and cover  10  is relatively large, then an overall area of the adhesive layer  40  is relatively large. With the adhesive layer  40 , the mechanical stability of a whole spliced structure of the display panel is ensured. 
       FIG.  28    is a flowchart of another method for manufacturing a display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  28   , before the step S 103  of aligning and attaching the at least two display units  20  to the cover  10 , the method also includes step S 104 . 
     At step S 104 , an adhesive layer  40  is coated on a side of the cover  10  provided with the connection electrodes  11 , and the adhesive layer  40  avoids the connection electrodes  11 . 
     At step S 103 , each display unit  20  is aligned and attached to the cover  10  coated with the adhesive layer  40 . 
     In the method provided by the embodiments, the adhesive layer  40  is first coated on the cover  10  and avoids the connection electrodes  11 , and the display units  20  are aligned and attached to the cover  10  by the adhesive layer  40 . The pressing operation in the bonding process for the pins  21  and the connection electrodes  11  enables simultaneous squeezing of the adhesive layer  40  so that the adhesive layer  40  fills the gap between the cover  10  and the display unit  20 . 
       FIG.  29    is a flowchart of another method for manufacturing a display panel provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some other embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  29   , the method for manufacturing the display panel also includes step S 105 . 
     At step S 105 , conductive structures  30  are manufactured on the pins  21  of the display units  20  located at predetermined splicing position. Taking the conductive structures  30  being solder balls as an example, solder balls are respectively formed on the pins  21  that are aligned with each other, and the process of forming solder balls is also referred to as a ball-planting process. The embodiments of  FIG.  29    schematically illustrate that multiple display units  20  are pre-spliced to form a splicing array, and then the conductive structure  30  are manufactured. 
     At step S 103 , the display units  20  are aligned and attached to the cover  10 , and the pins  21  and the connection electrodes  11  are bonded and connected together by the conductive structures  30  at the at least one splicing position. 
     The conductive structures  30  in the embodiments not only electrically connect the pins  21  and the connection electrodes  11 , but also bond and fix the pins  21  and the connection electrodes  11 . 
     The above are merely exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Any modifications, equivalents, improvements, etc., which are made within the principles of the present disclosure, should fall into the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate, rather to limit, the technical solution of the present disclosure. Although the present disclosure is described in details with reference to the above embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that they can still modify the technical solution recorded in the above embodiments, or to make equivalent replacement to some or all of the technical features thereof; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solution deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of all embodiments of the present disclosure.