Patent ID: 12228828

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The technical solutions in embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work shall fall within the protection scope of this application.

In the current LCD, a single pixel electrode on a side of the array substrate or between two adjacent pixel electrodes is usually designed as a double-domain or multi-domain structure. When external light enters the LCD, the liquid crystal molecules in the imaging area under the screen are affected by the pixel electrodes in different domains. Therefore, the external light passing through the pixel electrodes of different domains in an imaging area under the screen will form incident light with phase difference, which causes a technical problem of ghosting when the camera module takes pictures. This application provides following technical solutions to solve the above technical problems.

Referring toFIGS.1to11, the present application provides a display panel100that includes at least one first display area200and a second display area300located at a periphery of the first display area200.

In this embodiment, the display panel100includes: a plurality of first pixel electrodes20arranged in the first display area200and a plurality of second pixel electrodes30arranged in the second display area300. The first pixel electrode20includes a plurality of first branch electrodes21, the second pixel electrode30includes a plurality of second branch electrodes31, and the plurality of second branch electrodes31have at least two different extension directions.

In this embodiment, an extension direction of each of the first branch electrodes21is the same.

In this embodiment, a definition of the extension direction can be specifically referred toFIG.5, and a data transmission direction of the data line can be taken as the standard.

In this embodiment, an extension direction of the first branch electrode21and the second branch electrode31refers to a single extension direction. For example, inFIG.5, the first branch electrode21has one extension direction, and the second branch electrode31has two extension directions.

In this embodiment, the first display area200may be an under-screen camera area of the display panel100, and the second display area300may be a conventional display area of the display panel100. When the display device displays, the first display area200and the second display area300perform normal display. When the display device uses a camera module600, the first display area200is a channel for external light to enter the camera module600, and the second display area300performs normal display.

In the present application, an extension direction of the pixel electrode in the first display area200corresponding to the camera module600is different from the extension direction of part of the pixel electrode in the second display area300, and the pixel electrode in the first display area200is arranged to extend unidirectionally, such that phase changes of the external light passing through the first display area200are equal. Therefore, an incident light received by the camera module600has the same phase, and an imaging quality of the camera module600is guaranteed.

The technical solution of the present application will now be described in conjunction with specific embodiments.

Refer toFIG.2, which is a cross-sectional view of section AA inFIG.1.

The display panel100may include an array substrate11, a color filter substrate12disposed opposite to the array substrate11, and a liquid crystal layer13disposed between the array substrate11and the color filter substrate12. The array substrate11may be a conventional array substrate11or a COA (Color filter on Array) substrate, which is not specifically limited in this application. In following embodiments, the present application takes a conventional array substrate11as an example for description.

The array substrate11may include a first substrate111, a thin film transistor layer112on the first substrate111, and a pixel electrode layer113provided on the thin film transistor layer112.

In this embodiment, material of the first substrate111may be made of materials such as glass, quartz, or polyimide. The thin film transistor layer112may include a plurality of thin film transistors140. The thin film transistor140may be an etch-stop type, a back-channel etch type, or a top-gate thin film transistor type structure, which is not specifically limited in this application. For example, the thin film transistor140of the bottom gate thin film transistor type may include: a gate layer114on the first substrate111, a gate insulating layer115on the gate layer114, a semiconductor layer116on the gate insulating layer115, a source and drain layer117on the semiconductor layer116, and a passivation layer118is located on the source and drain layer117. The gate layer may include a gate and a scan line Gate. The source-drain layer may include a source electrode, a drain electrode, a data line Data, etc. A contact hole119is formed on the passivation layer118. The pixel electrode layer113is connected to the source/drain of the thin film transistor140through the contact hole119.

In this embodiment, the color filter substrate12includes a second substrate121, a color filter layer122on the second substrate121, and a common electrode layer123on the color filter layer122. The common electrode layer123is disposed opposite to the pixel electrode layer113.

In this embodiment, referring toFIG.3, a plurality of the scan lines Gate and a plurality of the data lines Data divide the display panel100into a plurality of sub-pixels150. Each sub-pixel150is provided with the first pixel electrode20or the second pixel electrode30. That is, the pixel electrode layer113is divided into a plurality of first pixel electrodes20and a plurality of second pixel electrodes30by a plurality of the scan lines Gate and a plurality of the data lines Data. The voltage difference between the first pixel electrode20or the second pixel electrode30and the common electrode layer drives the deflection of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer13.

In order to solve the problem of the viewing angle of the LCD display panel100, a single pixel electrode or two adjacent pixel electrodes in the current LCD are usually designed as a double-domain or multi-domain structure. However, the external light is affected by the liquid crystal molecules in different domains to form incident light with phase difference, resulting in abnormal imaging of the camera module600. In the present application, the pixel electrode in the under-screen imaging area is configured as a single domain structure to prevent the external light passing through the first display area200from having a phase difference.

In this embodiment, the extension direction of the second branch electrode31may be at least two kinds. In the following embodiments, two extension directions of the second branch electrode31are used as an example for illustration.

Refer toFIG.4, which is a first enlarged view of area B inFIG.1.

In each of the second pixel electrodes30, each of the second branch electrodes31includes a first connection section311and a second connection section312that are electrically connected to each other. The first connection section311extends along a first direction X, and the second connection section312extends along a second direction Y. Each of the first branch electrodes21extends along the first direction X or the second direction Y, and the first direction X and the second direction Y are different.

In this embodiment, the first direction X and the second direction Y are not specifically limited here, and the first direction X and the second direction Y may be arranged non-parallel.

In a structure inFIG.4, the second pixel electrode30is illustrated by taking a double domain structure as an example.

In one of the second pixel electrodes30, a plurality of the first connection segments311extend in a corresponding sub-pixel150along the first direction X, and a plurality of second connecting segments312extend in a corresponding sub-pixel150along the second direction Y. The included angle between the first direction X and the second direction Y is not specifically limited in this application. For example, referring to the structure inFIG.5, an angle between the first connection section311and the extending direction of the scan line Gate may be labeled as “a”, and an angle between the second connection section312and an extending direction of the scan line Gate may be labeled as “b”. Since the first connection section311and the second connection section312may be symmetrically arranged with their center lines, a sum of the values a and b may be 180°.

In one of the first pixel electrodes20, a plurality of the first branch electrodes21may extend in a corresponding sub-pixel150along the first direction X or the second direction Y. An angle between the first branch electrode21and the extension direction of the scan line Gate may be labeled as “c”. The value c can be equal to the value a.

In this embodiment, an area of the first pixel electrode20may be equal to an area of the second pixel electrode30.

In this embodiment, the second pixel electrode30located in the second display area300has a double domain structure, and different segments of the second pixel electrode30extend in different directions. An internal light passes through the pixel electrode of the double domain structure, thereby eliminating a technical problem of poor viewing angle of the LCD display panel100. Secondly, the first pixel electrode20located in the first display area200has a single domain structure, and each of the first branch electrodes21may extend along the first direction X. The phase changes of the external light passing through the first display area200are equal, and the incident light received by the camera module600has the same phase, which ensures the imaging quality of the camera module600.

Refer toFIG.6, which is a second enlarged view of area B inFIG.1.

In an extension direction of the scan line Gate or the data line Data, the second branch electrodes31in two adjacent second pixel electrodes30respectively extend along the first direction X and the second direction Y. The second branch electrodes31in the two adjacent second pixel electrodes30are arranged symmetrically with a center line of two adjacent second pixel electrodes30as an axis. Each of the first branch electrodes21extends along the first direction X or the second direction Y.

In this embodiment, the first direction X and the second direction Y are not specifically limited here. The first direction X and the second direction Y can be arranged non-parallel. For details, refer to the schematic diagram inFIG.5.

In a structure inFIG.6, the second pixel electrode30is described by taking a single domain structure as an example.

In the second display area300, a plurality of second branch electrodes31in one second pixel electrode30extend along the first direction X or the second direction Y, and the second branch electrodes31in the two adjacent second pixel electrodes30may be symmetrically arranged with the scan line Gate between the two adjacent second pixel electrodes30as a center line. That is, each of the second pixel electrodes30has a single-domain structure, but two adjacent second pixel electrodes30are combined into a double-domain structure, which eliminates the technical problem of poor viewing angle of the LCD display panel100.

In this embodiment, an area of the first pixel electrode20may be equal to an area of the second pixel electrode30.

In the first display area200, the first branch electrode21in each of the first pixel electrodes20may extend in a corresponding sub-pixel150along the first direction X. That is, each of the first pixel electrodes20has a single-domain structure with a single extending direction. The phase changes of the external light passing through the two adjacent first pixel electrodes20are equal, and the incident light received by the camera module600has the same phase, which ensures the imaging quality of the camera module600.

As shown in a structure shown inFIG.6, in an extension direction of the data line Data, extension directions of the first branch electrodes21of the two adjacent first pixel electrodes20are the same, but the pixel structures are different. For example, the pixel structures of the first pixel electrodes20in odd rows are the same, the pixel structures of the first pixel electrodes20in even rows are the same, and the pixel structures of the first pixel electrodes20in odd rows and even rows are different; and the pixel structure of each of the first pixel electrodes20in the odd or even rows is the same as the pixel structure of each of the second pixel electrodes30. Secondly, in the structure ofFIG.4, in the extension direction along the data line Data, the extension direction and the pixel structure of the first branch electrode21in each of the first pixel electrodes20are the same. And the pixel structure of each first pixel electrode20and the pixel structure of each second pixel electrode30are different.

The structure ofFIG.6is compared with the structure ofFIG.4. The structure ofFIG.4is suitable for an arrangement structure of low pixel density, and the structure ofFIG.6is suitable for the arrangement structure of high pixel density. That is, the area of one pixel electrode inFIG.4may be equivalent to the area of two pixel electrodes inFIG.6, and different pixel electrode structures are required to be selected for different pixel densities.

Refer toFIG.7, which is a third enlarged view of area B inFIG.1.

In this embodiment, an area of the first pixel electrode20may be smaller than or equal to an area of the second pixel electrode30. Since the first display area200is an under-screen camera area, external light enters the camera module600through the first pixel electrode20in the first display area200. Therefore, the smaller the area of the first pixel electrode20is, the higher the pixel density of the first display area200is, and the display effect of the under-screen imaging area is better.

In this embodiment, the structures inFIG.6andFIG.4are combined, and the structures of the first pixel electrode20inFIG.6and the second pixel electrode30inFIG.4are used. Under a condition of ensuring the resolution of the conventional display area, the area of the first pixel electrode20in the first display area200is reduced, such that a density of the first pixel electrode20per unit area is increased. Therefore, although the external light passing through the first display area200will decrease and the imaging quality of the camera module600will be reduced, the increase in pixel density improves the display effect of the camera area under the screen.

Refer toFIG.8, which is a fourth enlarged view of the area B inFIG.1.

In this embodiment, in a direction from the second display area300to the first display area200, the area of the first pixel electrode20gradually decreases. Since pixel densities of the first display area200and the second display area300are different, a relatively abrupt image quality change may occur at the junction of the first display area200and the second display area300. Therefore, as shown inFIG.8, in a direction from the second display area300to the first display area200, the area of the sub-pixel150in the first display area200gradually decreases. The area of the sub-pixel150close to the second display area300in the first display area200is the largest.

Since a change in the area of the sub-pixel150is equivalent to a change in the area of the corresponding pixel electrode, this embodiment will gradually reduce the area of the first pixel electrode20in the direction from the second display area300to the first display area200, so that the picture quality changes from the second display area300to the first display area200gradually transition. The technical problem of sudden changes in picture quality at the junction of the first display area200and the second display area300is eliminated.

In this embodiment, an area of the sub-pixel150in the first display area200close to the second display area300is equal to the area of the sub-pixel150in the second display area300, and a ratio of the area of the sub-pixel150far from the second display area300in the first display area200to the area of the sub-pixel150in the second display area300may range from 0.5 to 1.

When the area of the sub-pixel150in the first display area200is too small (For example, when the area of the sub-pixel150in the first display area200far from the second display area300is less than half of the area of the sub-pixel150in the second display area300), even if there is a transition between the second display area300and the first display area200, due to the large difference in pixel density between the two, when the display panel100is normally displayed, the picture quality at the junction of the first display area200and the second display area300will still have a certain sudden change.

Refer toFIG.9, which is a fifth enlarged view of area B inFIG.1.

On a basis of the foregoing embodiment, the display panel100may further include a transition pixel electrode40. The transition pixel electrode40may include a first portion401disposed in the first display area200and a second portion402disposed in the second display area300. The first portion401includes a plurality of first transition electrodes4011, and the second portion402includes a plurality of second transition electrodes4021. An extension direction of the first transition electrode4011is the same as an extension direction of the first branch electrode21, and an extension direction of the second transition electrode4021is the same as an extension direction of the second branch electrode31.

In this embodiment, part of the pixel electrodes will exist in the first display area200and the second display area300at the same time. For the pixel electrode in the first display area200, it needs to have a single extension direction, and for the pixel electrode in the second display area300, it needs to have at least two extension directions to improve the technical problem of LCD viewing angle. Therefore, in the structure ofFIG.9, the extension direction of the first transition electrode4011in the transition pixel electrode40may be the same as the extension direction of the first branch electrode21. The pixel electrodes with different extension directions are avoided such that the external light passing through the first display area200has a different phase difference. In addition, the extension direction of the second transition electrode4021in the transition pixel electrode40may be the same as the extension direction of the second branch electrode31. The pixel electrodes with different extension directions can improve the technical problem of the viewing angle of the LCD, so as to ensure that the viewing angle of any area in the second display area300is improved.

In this embodiment, referring toFIG.9andFIG.10, a distance between adjacent first transition electrodes4011in the transition pixel electrodes40is a first distance a1, a distance between adjacent second transition electrodes4021in the transition pixel electrode40is a second distance a2, and the first distance a1 is smaller than the second distance a2.

In this embodiment, the first portion401of the transition pixel electrode40is located in the first display area200, and the first distance a1 is smaller than the second distance a2. Therefore, the distance between adjacent first transition electrodes4011in the transition pixel electrode40is smaller than the distance between adjacent second transition electrodes4021in the transition pixel electrode40. That is, under the same area, a ratio of the area of the first transition electrode4011is greater than a ratio of the area of the second transition electrode4021.

It can be understood that a slit distance between adjacent first transition electrodes4011in the transition pixel electrode40is smaller than a slit distance between adjacent second transition electrodes4021in the transition pixel electrode40.

When the transition pixel electrode40is energized, the extension direction of the transition electrode in the first portion401and the second portion402of the transition pixel electrode40is different, so the liquid crystal molecules corresponding to the first portion401and the second portion402of the transition pixel electrode40have different deflection directions, and there is a corresponding interaction force between the liquid crystal molecules of different deflection directions. The area of the second transition electrode4021in the second portion402occupies a relatively small area. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules corresponding to the second transition electrode4021in the second portion402exert a weak force on the branch electrode corresponding to the first transition electrode4011in the first portion401. The influence of the liquid crystal molecules corresponding to the first transition electrode4011on the adjacent liquid crystal molecules of different deflection directions is reduced.

In this embodiment, a distance between two adjacent second branch electrodes31disposed close to the transition pixel electrode40is smaller than the second distance a2. In the second display area300, the second pixel electrode30is provided with a second pixel electrode30close to the transition pixel electrode40. In order to ensure a luminous brightness and luminous efficiency of the second display area300, the two adjacent second branch electrodes31in the second pixel electrode30need to be smaller than the second distance a2. That is, an area ratio of the second branch electrode31is greater than an area ratio of the branch electrode in the second portion402of the transition pixel electrode40.

The structure inFIG.9can consider a single extension direction required by the first display area200to avoid the phase difference generated by the external light entering the display panel100, and it can also consider at least two extension directions required by the second display area300to improve the technical problem of the viewing angle of the LCD. However, multiple extension directions of the same pixel electrode will bring about complicated process problems and the stability of the product structure.

Refer toFIG.11, which is a sixth enlarged view of area B inFIG.1.

In this embodiment, an extension direction of the first portion401of the transition pixel electrode40may be the same as the extension direction of the first branch electrode21. An extension direction of the second portion402of the transition pixel electrode40may also be the same as the extension direction of the first branch electrode21.

A structure inFIG.11is the same as that of a conventional unidirectionally extending pixel electrode, except that: in the direction from the second display area300to the first display area200, the distance L between adjacent branch electrodes in the transition pixel electrode40gradually decreases. That is, under the same area, the area ratio of the branch electrodes of the transition pixel electrode40in the second display area300is smaller than the area ratio of the branch electrodes of the transition pixel electrode40in the first display area200.

In the present application, the extension direction of the pixel electrode in the first display area200corresponding to the camera module600is different from the extension direction of part of the pixel electrode in the second display area300, and the pixel electrodes in the first display area200are arranged to extend unidirectionally, such that the phase changes of the external light passing through the first display area200are equal. The incident light received by the camera module600has the same phase, which ensures the imaging quality of the camera module600. At the same time, the area ratio of the branch electrodes in the first display area200is greater than the area ratio of the branch electrodes in the second display area300. The influence of the branch electrodes extending in multiple directions in the second display area300on the branch electrodes extending in one direction in the first display area200is reduced, and the phase changes of the external light passing through the first display area200are ensured to be equal.

Referring toFIG.12, this application also provides a display device400. The display device includes the above-mentioned display panel100, a backlight module500disposed opposite to the display panel100, and a camera module600disposed on a side of the backlight module500away from the display panel100. The camera module600corresponds to the first display area200.

In this embodiment, the camera module600may also include an opening and closing plate (not shown). A surface of the opening and closing plate close to the display panel100is made of reflective material.

In this embodiment, when the camera module600is working, the opening and closing plate of the camera module600is opened, and external light can pass through the first display area to enter the camera module600. When the camera module600is in a non-working state, the opening and closing plate of the camera module600is closed. When external light enters the display panel, the opening and closing plate reflects the corresponding light to avoid damage to the camera module600caused by the external light.

In this embodiment, the working principle of the display device is the same as or similar to the working principle of the display panel, which will not be repeated here. The display device may be, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a computer, a notebook, etc.

The present application provides a display panel and a display device. The display panel comprises: at least one first display area and a second display area located at a periphery of the first display area. The display panel comprises: a plurality of first pixel electrodes arranged in the first display area and a plurality of second pixel electrodes arranged in the second display area, wherein the first pixel electrode comprises a plurality of first branch electrodes, the second pixel electrode comprises a plurality of second branch electrodes, and the plurality of second branch electrodes have at least two different extension directions, wherein an extension direction of each of the first branch electrodes is the same. In the present application, an extension direction of the pixel electrode in the first display area corresponding to a camera module is different from an extension direction of part of the pixel electrodes in the second display area, and the pixel electrode in the first display area is disposed to extend unidirectionally, such that phase changes of an external light passing through the first display area are equal. An incident light received by the camera module has the same phase, which ensures an imaging quality of the camera module.

It is understandable that for those of ordinary skill in the art, equivalent substitutions or changes can be made according to the technical solution of the present application and its inventive concept. All these changes or replacements shall fall within the protection scope of the appended claims of this application.