Patent ID: 12260793

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of the present disclosure will be described clearly and completely hereinafter in combination with the drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. It is apparent that the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than all of the embodiments.

In order to make the embodiments of the present disclosure more clear and comprehensible, the present disclosure will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments.

Based on this, referring toFIG.1andFIG.2,FIG.2is a cross-sectional diagram taken along AA1inFIG.1, where the cross-sectional diagram ofFIG.2shows only a substrate10, a first detection signal line21and a second detection signal line22and an inorganic layer30between the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22, while other film layers are not shown. According to the present disclosure, a display panel is provided, which includes:

a substrate10;

a detection signal line20located on a side of the substrate10;

a display area11and a non-display area12surrounding the display area11; and

an inorganic layer.

The detection signal line20is located in the non-display area12, and includes a first detection signal line21and a second detection signal line22arranged in sequence in a first direction x. The first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22are configured to detect a crack in the display panel. It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22are both made from metal Mo, which is not limited in the present disclosure and may be determined according to circumstances.

The inorganic layer is located between the film layer where the first detection signal line21is located and the film layer where the second detection signal line22is located. The inorganic layer30is configured to insulate and isolate the film layer where the first detection signal line21is located from the film layer where the second detection signal line22is located.

In the first direction x, the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22are at least partially overlapped, that is, the orthographic projection of the first detection signal line21on a side of the substrate10and that of the second detection signal line22one the side of the substrate10are at least partially overlapped. In other words, the orthographic projection of the first detection signal line21on the substrate10and that of the second detection signal line22on the substrate10are partially overlapped, as shown inFIG.1andFIG.2. In one embodiment, the orthographic projections of the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22on the substrate10are completely overlapped, as shown inFIG.3andFIG.4.FIG.3is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.4is a cross-sectional diagram taken along BB1inFIG.3. It should be noted that the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22being at least partially overlapped refers to parts where the first signal detection line21and the second signal detection line22extend in the same path being at least partially overlapped in the first direction x.

The first direction x is perpendicular to the plane where the substrate10is located.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the display panel includes the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22located in the non-display area12. When detecting a crack in the display panel, the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22may detect the crack in the display panel in different manners. In one embodiment, the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22may detect the crack in the same manner, to improve the reliability of crack detection. In addition, in a case that it is not required to use both the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line for crack detection, one of the first and second detection signal lines22may be selected for crack detection according to the actual situation, to improve the efficiency of crack detection.

In addition, in the display panel, the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22are sequentially arranged in the first direction x, that is, the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22are sequentially arranged on one side of the substrate10in the direction perpendicular to the substrate. In addition, in the first direction x, the projections of the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22are at least partially overlapped, that is, the projections of the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line the signal line22are partially or completely overlapped. Therefore, the crack detection lines of the display panel according to the embodiment of the present disclosure occupies smaller space in the horizontal direction, and the space occupied by the crack detection lines in the non-display area12, i.e., the frame area can be effectively reduced, which is beneficial to reduce the size of the frame area of the display panel, and facilitates the realization of a design with a narrow frame, which is in line with the development trend of a display panel with a narrow frame.

On the basis of the above embodiments, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown inFIG.5, which is a cross-sectional diagram taken along CC1inFIG.1, the display panel includes a gate metal layer g1, and a capacitor metal layer c2, where the capacitor metal layer c2is located on a side of the gate metal layer g1away from the substrate10, the first detection signal line21is on the same layer as the gate metal layer g1, and the second detection signal line22is on the same layer as the capacitor metal layer c2, and the first detection signal line21and the gate metal layer g1in the display panel can be manufactured in the same process step. In an embodiment, the first detection signal line21and the gate metal layer g1may be manufactured by patterning the metal layer where the first detection signal line21and the gate metal layer g1are located. Similarly, the second detection signal line22may be manufactured in the same process step as the capacitor metal layer c2, which is beneficial to simplify the manufacturing process of the display panel.

Taking an OLED display panel as an example, as shown inFIG.5, the display panel, from bottom to top, includes: a substrate10, an active layer b, a first metal layer M1, a second metal layer MC, a third metal layer M2, a fourth metal layer M3, a fifth metal layer M4, and insulating layers between the semiconductor layer b1and the first metal layer M1and adjacent metal layers. In an embodiment, the first insulating layer GI is located between the active layer b and the first metal layer M1, the second insulating layer IMD is located between the first metal layer M1and the second metal layer MC, the interlayer dielectric layer ILD is located between the second metal layer MC and the third metal layer M2, etc., the second insulating layer IMD is equivalent to the inorganic layer30inFIG.2.

It should be noted that the above metal layers are patterned metal layers, which may be used to form various components in the display panel. The first metal layer M1includes the gate metal layer g1and the lower plate c1of a storage capacitor Cst that are located in the display area11and the first detection signal line21located in the non-display area12. The second metal layer MC includes the upper plate c2of the storage capacitor Cst located in the display area11and the second detection signal line22located in the non-display area12, where the upper plate c2of the storage capacitor Cst is located on the side of the gate metal layer g1away from the substrate10, and is also referred to as the capacitor metal layer. The third metal layer M2includes a source metal layer s1and a drain metal layer d1that are located in the display area. The fifth metal layer M4includes an anode RE of an OLED light-emitting element located in the display area11, the fifth metal layer M4is electrically connected to the third metal layer M2through the fourth metal layer M3.

It can be known from the above that, in the display panel, the first detection signal line21is on the same layer as the gate metal layer g1, and the second detection signal line22is on the same layer as the storage capacitor metal layer c2. In other words, the first detection signal line21and the gate metal layer g1belong to the same conductive layer, and the second detection signal line22and the upper plate c2of the storage capacitor belong to the same conductive layer. The conductive layer where the gate metal layer g1is located and the conductive layer where the storage capacitor metal layer c2is located have small thickness, which may be 2700 angstroms, and are subject to great stress. Therefore, the first detection signal line21being in the same conductive layer as the gate metal layer g1, and the second detection signal line22and the upper plate c2of the storage capacitor being in the same conductive layer cause great stress on the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22, resulting in improved crack detection effect. In contrast, other film layers have greater thickness, and better ductility and strong crack resistance, which may reduce the crack detection effect. Hence, in the display panel according to the present disclosure, the first detection signal line21is on the same layer as the gate metal layer g1, and the second detection signal line22is on the same layer as the storage capacitor metal layer c2.

It should be noted that, inFIG.5, an OLED display panel is used as an example for illustration. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure is also applicable to an LCD display panel. The first detection signal line21and the second signal line detection line22may be prepared by using metal layers in the LCD panel that are similar to the above metal layers of the OLED display panel, without an additional metal layer, the details of which will not be described in detail in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

On the basis of the above-mentioned embodiments, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, referring toFIG.6, which is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first detection signal line21includes a first signal line211and a second signal line212located on opposite sides of the display area11respectively, and the second detection signal line22includes a third signal line221and a fourth signal line222located on the two opposite sides of the display area11respectively. In the first direction, the first signal line211and the third signal line221are at least partially overlapped, and the second signal line212and the fourth signal line222are at least partially overlapped, which is beneficial to reduce the size of the frame area of the display panel and facilitate the realization of a design with a narrow frame.

Further referring toFIG.6, the detection signal line further includes a fifth signal line213, where the first signal line211is electrically connected to the second signal line212through the fifth signal line213, and the third signal line221is electrically connected to the fourth signal line222via the fifth signal line222. The fifth signal line213is located in the non-display area12, and is on the same layer as the first detection signal line21, that is, the fifth signal line213, the first signal line211and the second signal line212belong to the same conductive layer, and two terminals of the fifth signal line213are electrically connected to the third signal line221and the fourth signal line222respectively.

Reference is made toFIG.7, which is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to the present disclosure. The display panel shown inFIG.7differs from the display panel described with reference toFIG.6in that, the fifth signal line213and the second detection signal line22are located on the same layer, that is, the fifth signal line213belongs to the same conductive layer as the third signal line221and the fourth signal line222, and the two terminals of the fifth signal line213are electrically connected to the first signal line211and the second signal line212respectively.

As described above, since the first detection signal line21is electrically connected to the second detection signal line22through the fifth signal line213, the first detection signal line21may perform crack detection independently, or may collaborate with the second detection signal line22for detecting cracks.

In an embodiment, the first detection signal line21is used as the signal input line for the second detection signal line22. For example, the first detection signal line21provides an input signal to the second detection signal line22during crack detection, and the second detection signal line22does not require a specified signal input line. As a result, the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22can be arranged at different layers in the vertical direction, to further reduce the space occupied by the crack detection lines, and further reduce the size of the frame area of the display panel, which contributes to the development trend of the narrow frame of the display panel. In addition, since the first detection signal line21is used as the signal input line for the second detection signal line22, it is not necessary to provide a separate signal input line for the second detection signal line22, which simplifies the structure of the second signal detection line22, to simplify the structure of the display panel.

It should be noted that, in the above embodiment, as shown inFIG.6, the first signal line211and the second signal line212are located on opposite sides of the display area11respectively, extend to the side where the fifth signal line213is located, and are electrically connected to the two terminals of the fifth signal line213respectively. Nevertheless, it is determined according to specific circumstance rather than being limited in the present disclosure. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown inFIG.8, which is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to the present disclosure, the first signal line211and the second signal line212are located on opposite sides of the display area11respectively, where the first signal line211extends to a connection portion between the side where the first signal line211is located and the side where the third signal line213is located, and the second signal line212extends to a connection portion between the side where the second signal line212is located and the side where the third signal line213is located, but the first signal line211and the second signal line212do not extend to the side where the fifth signal line213is located, and are electrically connected to the fifth signal line213. As shown inFIG.9, which is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to the present disclosure, the first signal line211and the second signal line212are located on opposite sides of the display area11respectively, and the two terminals of the fifth signal line213are extended to the side where the first signal line211is located and the side where the second signal line212is located and are electrically connected to the first signal line211and the second signal line212, respectively.

On the basis of the above embodiments, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, in a case that the fifth signal line213and the first detection signal line21belong to the same conductive layer, the fifth signal line213and the first detection signal line21may be obtained by patterning the conductive layer where the fifth signal line213and the first detection signal line21are located, and then electrically connecting the two terminals of the fifth signal line213to the third signal line221and the fourth signal line222that are located on a different layer from the fifth signal line213respectively. In an embodiment, the two terminals of the fifth signal line213are electrically connected to the third signal line221and the fourth signal line222through via holes or transistors, respectively, where the transistors include diodes and thin-film transistors.

Reference is made toFIG.10, which is a cross-sectional diagram taken along DD1inFIG.6. InFIG.10, only relevant film layers are shown, including: the substrate10, the first signal line211, the second signal line212, the third signal line221, the fourth signal line222, the fifth signal line213, and the inorganic layer30. The display panel further includes: a first via hole31and a second via hole32, where two terminals of the first via hole31are connected to the fifth signal line213and the third signal line221respectively, and the two terminals of the second via hole32are connected to the fifth signal line213and the fourth signal line222respectively, and the two terminals of the fifth signal line213are electrically connected to the third signal line221and the fourth signal line222respectively, to enable the first detection signal line21to be electrically connected to the second detection signal line22, and to provide a signal input to the second detection signal line22. The display panel realizes the electrical connection between the first signal line211and the third signal line221, and the electrical connection between the second signal line221and the fourth signal line222through the conductive via hole. In other words, display panel realizes the electrical connection between the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22in a simple connection manner, which is beneficial to simplify the manufacturing process of the display panel.

As shown inFIG.11, which is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to the present disclosure, the display panel includes a first thin-film transistor33and a second thin-film transistor34. A source of the first thin-film transistor33is electrically connected to a gate of the first thin-film transistor33, and is further electrically connected to the fifth signal line213, while the drain of the first thin-film transistor33is electrically connected to one terminal of the third signal line221. A source of the second thin-film transistor34is electrically connected to a gate of the second thin-film transistor34, and is further electrically connected to the fifth signal line213, while the drain of the second thin-film transistor34is electrically connected to the fourth signal line222, and the two terminals of the fifth signal line213are electrically connected to the third signal line221and the fourth signal line222respectively. In this way, the first detection signal line21is may provide an input signal to the second detection signal line22. In an embodiment, the transistor is a positive channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS). When crack detection is performed, in a case that a low-level signal is inputted into the gates of the first thin-film transistor33and the second thin-film transistor34, the first thin-film transistor33and the second thin-film transistor34are turned on; in a case that a high-level signal is inputted into the gates of the first thin-film transistor33and the second thin-film transistor34, the first thin-film transistor33and the second thin-film transistor34are turned off. Hence, whether the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22are electrically connected can be controlled by controlling the switch status of the thin-film transistors. In this way, it is flexible to control the crack detection of the display panel. It should be noted that the type of the thin-film transistor is not limited in the present disclosure. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the thin-film transistor may be NOMS and the like, which is determined according to the circumstances.

As shown inFIG.12, which is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to the present disclosure, the display panel includes a first diode35and a second diode36, where an anode of the first diode35is connected to the fifth signal lines213, an cathode of the first diode35is connected to the third signal line221, an anode of the second diode36is connected to the fifth signal line213, and a cathode of the second diode36is connected to the fourth signal line222, and the two terminals of the fifth signal line213are connected to the third signal line221and the fourth signal line222respectively. As a result, the first detection signal line21may provide an input signal to the second detection signal line22. As described above, the anode of the first diode35is connected to the fifth signal line213, the cathode of the first diode35is connected to the third signal line221, the anode of the second diode36is connected to the fifth signal line213, and the cathode of second diode36is connected to the fourth signal line222. As the diode has unidirectional conductivity, the signal provided by the first signal line211can only be transmitted to the third signal line221, and the signal provided by the second signal line can only be transmitted to the fourth signal line, that is, the signal transmission paths are separated, which is beneficial to improve the accuracy of crack location determination during crack detection.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, in a case that the fifth signal line and the second detection signal line are located on the same conductive layer, the two terminals of the fifth signal line are electrically connected to the first signal line and the second signal line through via holes or through transistors respectively. The transistors include diodes and thin-film transistors.

In an embodiment, in a case that the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line are electrically connected through via holes, as shown inFIG.13, which is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to the present disclosure, the display panel further includes a third via hole37and the fourth via hole38. Two terminals of the third via hole37are electrically connected to the fifth signal line213and the first signal line211, respectively. Two terminals of the fourth via hole38are electrically connected to the fifth signal line213and the second signal line211, respectively. In this way, two terminals of the fifth signal line213are electrically connected to the first signal line211and the second signal line212respectively, and the first detection signal line21is electrically connected to the second detection signal line22, to enable the first detection signal line21to provide an input signal to the second detection signal line22.

As shown inFIG.14, which is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to the present disclosure, the display panel further includes a third thin-film transistor39and a fourth thin-film transistor40. A source of the third thin-film transistor39is electrically connected to a gate of the third thin-film transistor39, and is connected to the first signal line211, the drain of the third thin-film transistor39is electrically connected to one terminal of the fifth signal line213. A source of the fourth thin-film transistor40is electrically connected to a gate of the fourth thin-film transistor40, and is electrically connected to the second signal line212, a drain of the fourth thin-film transistor40is electrically connected to the fifth signal line213. In this way, the two terminals of the fifth signal line213are respectively electrically connected to the first signal line211and the second signal line212, and the first detection signal line21may provide an input signal to the second detection signal line22.

In a case that the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line are electrically connected through diodes, as shown inFIG.15, which is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to the present disclosure, the display panel further includes a third diode41and a fourth diode42. An anode of the third diode41is connected to the fifth signal line213, a cathode of the third diode41is connected to the first signal line211. An anode of the fourth diode42is connected to the fifth signal line213, and a cathode of the fourth diode42is connected to the second signal line212. In this way, the two terminals of the fifth signal line213are electrically connected to the first signal line211and the second signal line212respectively, and the first detection signal line21may provide an input signal to the second detection signal line22.

It should be noted that the electrical connection between the first signal line211and the third signal line221and the electrical connection between the second signal line212and the fourth signal line222in the display panels shown inFIGS.6to9are implemented through conductive via holes. However, it can be understood that the electrical connection between the first signal line211and the third signal line221and the electrical connection between the second signal line212and the fourth signal line222in the display panel may alternatively be implemented through thin-film transistors or diodes according to the above description, which is not limited in the present disclosure and may be determined depending on specific circumstances.

On the basis that the first detection signal line is connected to the second detection signal line through the fifth signal line, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown inFIG.16, which is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to the present disclosure, the display panel further includes a screen detection circuit43, where the screen detection circuit43is electrically connected to data lines data in the display area11. In an embodiment, a connection port d2of the screen detection circuit43is electrically connected to the data lines data in the display area11. The screen detection circuit43is located on a side of the display area11away from the fifth signal line213. The second detection signal line22is configured to provide a first switch control signal and is electrically connected to a connection port g2of the screen detection circuit, that is, is electrically connected to the control terminal of the screen detection circuit43, to control the screen detection circuit43to provide a first screen detection signal to the data lines data. In one embodiment, reference is made toFIG.17, which is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to the present disclosure. The display panel shown inFIG.17differs from the display panel shown inFIG.16in that the second detection signal line22is configured to provide a second screen detection signal to the screen detection circuit43and is electrically connected to the connection port s2of the screen detection circuit43, that is, is electrically connected to the input terminal of the screen detection circuit43. In this way, the screen detection circuit43provides a second screen detection signal to the data lines data based on control of the second switch control signal.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, referring toFIG.16, the second detection signal line22provides the first switch control signal to control the switch status of the screen detection circuit43. The screen detection signal is provided to the data lines data in the display area through the screen detection circuit43, and sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines data form a display screen based on the screen detection signal. When detecting cracks, in a case that the second detection signal line22does not include a disconnection, the second detection signal line22provides the first switch control signal to control the screen detection circuit43to be in the turn-on status, and the screen detection circuit43provides a screen detection signal to the data lines data. As a result, the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines data form a display screen based on the screen detection signal. In a case that the second detection signal line22includes a disconnection, the second detection signal line22cannot control the switch status of the screen detection circuit43. Therefore, no screen detection signal is provided to the data lines data and the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines data cannot form a display screen. It should be noted that the sub-pixels include OLED elements for an OLED display panel, and the sub-pixels include pixel electrodes for a liquid crystal display panel.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, referring toFIG.17, the second detection signal line22is configured to provide the second screen detection signal to the screen detection circuit43, and the screen detection circuit43is controlled to provide a second screen detection signal to the data lines data based on control of the second switch control signal. When performing crack detection, in a case that the second detection signal line22does not include a disconnection, the screen detection circuit43is controlled to be in the turn-on status based on control of the second switch control signal and provides the second screen detection signal provided by the second detection signal line22to the data lines data. As a result, the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines data form a display screen according to the screen detection signal. In a case that the second detection signal line22includes a disconnection, no second screen detection signal is provided, thus the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines data cannot form a display screen.

In summary, when performing crack detection, in a case that the second detection signal line includes a disconnection, the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines cannot form a display screen, thus the second detection signal line may be used to detect whether there is a crack in the screen body of the display panel. It should be noted that whether there is a crack in the display panel can be determined through the display screen formed by the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines in the display area on the premise that the first detection signal line does not include a disconnection. If the first detection signal line includes a disconnection, it indicates that there is a crack in the display panel. Hence, there is no need to use the second signal detection line for crack detection.

On the basis of the above embodiments, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown inFIG.18, which is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to the present disclosure, the screen detection circuit includes: a first detection circuit431and a second detection circuit432. The first signal line211is connected to the first detection circuit431through the third signal line221, and the first detection circuit431is connected to a part of the data lines data1in the display area11. The second signal line212is connected to the second detection circuit432through the fourth signal line222, and the second detection circuit432is connected to another part of the data lines data2in the display area11. In this way, whether there is a disconnection in the third signal line221or in the fourth signal line222can be determined based on a display screen formed by sub-pixels corresponding to the data lines data1and a display screen formed by sub-pixels corresponding to the data lines data2. Since the third signal line221and the fourth signal line222are located on opposite sides of the display area respectively, the location of the crack in the display panel may be determined based on the display screen formed by the sub-pixels corresponding to the third signal line221and the display screen formed by the sub-pixels corresponding to the fourth signal line222. For example, the third signal line221and the fourth signal line222are located on the left side and the right side of the display area respectively, if the display screen formed by the sub-pixels corresponding to the third signal line221is abnormal, for example, no display screen appears, there is a crack on the left side of the screen body of the display panel. If the display screen formed by the sub-pixels corresponding to the fourth signal line222is abnormal, there is a crack on the right side of the screen body of the display panel.

It should be noted that when the display panel is subject to different external forces, the stresses on respective film layers in the display panel may be different. For example, in a case that the display panel is subject to a downward bending stress F, the display panel is in a downward bending status. In this case, the deformation degree of the second detection signal line on the upper layer is greater than the deformation degree of the first detection signal line on the lower layer, causing the second detection signal line to be more likely to be disconnected at a position on the second detection signal line. Therefore, there may be a situation where the first detection signal line does not include a disconnection, but the second detection signal line includes a disconnection. In this case, the first detection signal line cannot be used to detect if there is a crack in the display panel, but the second detection signal line may be used to detect a crack in the display panel. Hence, the display panel according to the present disclosure includes the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line arranged in different layers, which can improve the reliability of crack detection and crack detection rate. The first detection signal line or the second detection signal line including a disconnection indicates that the first detection signal line or the second detection signal line being disconnected at a position on the first detection signal line or the second detection signal line.

On the basis of the above-mentioned embodiments, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown inFIG.19, which is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to the present disclosure, the first detection circuit431and the second detection circuit432each includes a control terminal, an input terminal and an output terminal. The output terminal is connected to corresponding data lines. The output terminal of the first detection circuit431is connected to the data lines data1, and the output terminal of the second detection circuit432is connected to the data lines data2. The input terminal is configured to receive the screen detection signal provided to the data line. The input terminal of the first detection circuit431is configured to receive the screen detection signal provided to the data lines data1, and the input terminal of the second detection circuit432is configured to receive the screen detection signal provided to the data lines data2. The control terminal is configured to receive the switch control signal, that is, the control terminal of the first detection circuit431receives the switch control signal, and the control terminal of the second detection circuit432receives the switch control signal, to control the switch status of the first detection circuit431and the second detection circuit432. The third signal line221is electrically connected to the control terminal of the first detection circuit431, and the fourth signal line222is electrically connected to the control terminal of the second detection circuit432, and the third signal line221provides a control signal to the first detection circuit431to control the switch status of the first detection circuit431, the fourth signal line222provides a control signal to the second detection circuit432to control the switch status of the second detection circuit432. In this way, the first detection circuit431and the second detection circuit432provides the screen detection signals to the data lines data1and the data lines data2respectively. In this embodiment, the input terminals of the first detection circuit431and the second detection circuit432receive screen detection signals through external lines.

Alternatively, as shown inFIG.20, which is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to the present disclosure, the display panel shown inFIG.20differs from the display panel shown inFIG.19in that: the third signal line221is electrically connected to the input terminal of the first detection circuit431, and the fourth signal line222is electrically connected to the input terminal of the second detection circuit432. In this way, the third signal line221provides a screen detection signal to the data lines data1, and the fourth signal line222provides a screen detection signal to the data lines data2, and the sub-pixels electrically connected to each of the data lines data1and the data lines data2form a display screen according to the screen detection signal. It should be noted that the control terminal of each of the first detection circuit431and the second detection circuit432forms the signal port g2of the screen detection circuit, that is, the control terminal of the screen detection circuit. The output terminal of each of the first detection circuit431and the second detection circuit432forms the signal port d2of the screen detection circuit, and the input terminal of each of the first detection circuit431and the second detection circuit432forms the signal port s2of the screen detection circuit, that is, the input terminal of the screen detection circuit.

Based on the above description, if the third signal line221includes a disconnection, the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines data1cannot form a display screen; and if the fourth signal line222includes a disconnection, the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines data2cannot form a display screen. Hence, whether the third signal line221includes a disconnection may be determined according to the situation of the display screen formed by the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines data1. Similarly, whether the fourth signal line222includes a disconnection may be determined according to the situation of the display screen formed by the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines data2. Since the third signal line221and the fourth signal line222are located on opposite sides of the display area respectively, the location of the crack in the screen body of the display panel, for example, the crack is on which side, may be determined according to the situation of the display screen formed by the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines data1and the situation of the display screen formed by the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines data2.

According to the present disclosure, in addition to the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line in the display panel being connected through the fifth signal line, the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line may alternatively be not electrically connected. Therefore, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown inFIG.21andFIG.22, whereFIG.21is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to the present disclosure, andFIG.22is a cross-sectional diagram taken along EE1inFIG.21, in the first direction x, the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22are directly opposite to each other and are insulated from each other. In other words, the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22are arranged in different layers, the orthographic projections of the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22on the substrate10are completely overlapped, and the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22are not electrically connected with each other. The two terminals of the first detection signal line21are a first terminal and a second terminal respectively, and the two terminals of the second detection signal line22are a third terminal and a fourth terminal respectively. The first terminal and the second terminal are first resistance signal detection terminals, and resistance of the first detection signal line21may be measured by utilizing the first terminal and the second terminal. The third terminal and the fourth terminal are second resistance signal detection terminals, and resistance of the second detection signal line22may be measured by utilizing the third terminal and the fourth terminal. Whether the first detection signal line21includes a disconnection may be determined based on the measured resistance of the first detection signal line21. Whether the second detection signal line22includes disconnection may be determined based the measured resistance of the second detection signal line22. As a result, whether there is a crack in the screen body of the display panel may be further determined. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, it may be understood that the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22each includes the fifth signal line on the same layer. Two terminals of fifth signal line on the same layer as the first detection signal line21are respectively connected to the first signal line and the second signal line, thus the fifth signal line along with the first signal line and the second signal line form the first detection signal line21. Two terminals of the fifth signal line on the same layer as the second detection signal line22are respectively connected to the third signal line and the fourth signal line, thus the fifth signal line along with the third signal line and the fourth signal line form the second detection signal line22.

Correspondingly, an electronic device is further provided according to the present disclosure, which includes the display panel according to any one of the above embodiments.

The electronic device may be an electronic device with a display function such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, and a display wearable device. It should be noted that the structure of the display panel in the electronic device has been described in detail in the foregoing embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

Further, a crack detection method for a display panel is provided according to the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.1andFIG.2, the display panel includes: a substrate10; a detection signal line20located on a side of the substrate10; a display area11and a non-display area12surrounding the display area11; and an inorganic layer30. The detection signal line20is located in the non-display area12, and includes a first detection signal line21and a second detection signal line22arranged in sequence in a first direction x. The inorganic layer30located between a conductive layer where the first detection signal line21is located and a conductive layer where the second detection signal line22is located. The first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22are at least partially overlapped in the first direction x, where the first direction x is perpendicular to a plane where the substrate10is located. As shown inFIG.23, the crack detection method includes following steps S1and S2.

In S1, an input signal is provided to the first detection signal line21and/or the second detection signal line22to acquire a crack detection signal.

In S2, whether there is a crack in the display panel is determined according to the crack detection signal.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the crack detection method includes providing an input signal to the first detection signal line and/or the second detection signal line, that is, the crack detection method includes providing an input signal to the first detection signal line, providing the input signal to the second detection signal line, and providing input signals to the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line to acquire a crack detection signal, and determining whether there is a crack in the display panel according to the crack detection signal. When the crack detection method is used for crack detection, the first detection signal line may be used for crack detection, the second detection signal line may be used for crack detection, or the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line may be used collaboratively for crack detection, and the detection method may be used to detect cracks in a variety of manners. In actual detection, one or more of the above detection manners may be used for crack detection, which has good flexibility and strong practicability. In addition, the crack detection method includes multiple crack detection manners, which makes the crack detection method more reliable and has a higher crack detection rate.

On the basis of the above embodiments, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown inFIG.6, the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22in the display panel are arranged in different layers and are at least partially overlapped in the first direction x. In an embodiment, the first detection signal line21includes a first signal line211and a second signal line212located on opposite sides of the display area11respectively; the second detection signal line22includes a third signal line221and a fourth signal line222located on opposite sides of the display area11respectively; the detection signal line further includes a fifth signal line213, where the first signal line211is electrically connected to the second signal line212through the fifth signal line213, and the third signal line221is electrically connected to the fourth signal line222through the fifth signal line213, and the fifth signal line213is on the same layer as the first detection signal line, i.e., the fifth signal line213is on the same layer as the first signal line211and the second signal line212, or the fifth signal line213is on the same layer as the second detection signal line, i.e., the fifth signal line213is on the same layer as the third signal line221and the fourth signal line222. In this case, the above step S1is shown as step S11in the detection method shown inFIG.24. Referring toFIG.24, which is a flow chart of a crack detection method according to the present disclosure, the crack detection method includes following steps S11and S21.

In S11, a first input signal is provided to the first detection signal line21, and a first impedance between two terminals of the first detection signal line21is detected, where the crack detection signal includes the first impedance. It should be noted that, a multimeter or an ohmmeter may be used for measuring the first impedance between the two terminals of the first detection signal line21. In this case, the first input signal is provided to the first detection signal line21through the multimeter or the ohmmeter.

Step S21is the same as the above step S2, that is, whether there is a crack in the display panel is determined according to the crack detection signal.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the impedance (i.e., resistance) between the two terminals of the first detection signal line is measured. Then, it is determined whether the first detection signal line includes a disconnection based on the measured impedance between the two terminals of the first detection signal line. In a case that the first detection signal line does not include a disconnection, the measured impedance between the two terminals of the first detection signal line is a constant value. In a case that the first detection signal line includes a disconnection, the measured impedance between the two terminals of the first detection signal line is infinite. Therefore, by measuring the impedance between the two terminals of the first detection signal line, whether the first detection signal line includes a disconnection is determined, which may be used to further determine whether there is a crack in the screen body of the display panel.

On the basis of the above-mentioned embodiments, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown inFIG.16or17, the display panel further includes the screen detection circuit43, the screen detection circuit43is electrically connected to the data lines (data) in the display area11, and the screen detection circuit43is located in the non-display area12at the side of the display area11away from the fifth signal line213. The second signal detection line22is electrically connected to the screen detection circuit43. In this case, the above step S1includes the steps S12and S13in the detection method shown inFIG.25. Referring toFIG.25, which is a schematic flowchart of a crack detection method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the method includes following steps S12, S13and S22.

In S12, the first input signal is provided to the first detection signal line21, and the first impedance between the two terminals of the first detection signal line21is detected, where the crack detection signal includes the first impedance.

In S13, in a case that the first impedance indicates that the first detection signal line does not includes a disconnection, a second input signal is provided to the first detection signal line21to provide a screen detection signal to the data lines, to cause the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines data to form a display screen in response to the screen detection signal, and the display screen of the display panel is acquired. The second input signal includes a screen detection signal or a switch control signal for the screen detection circuit43, and the crack detection signal includes the display screen of the display panel.

Step S22is the same as the above step S2, including determining whether there is a crack in the display panel based on the display screen of the display panel.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown inFIG.16, the second detection signal line22is electrically connected to the signal port g2of the screen detection circuit43, that is, is electrically connected to the control terminal of the screen detection circuit43, to provide the first switch control signal to control the switch status of the screen detection circuit43. When performing crack detection, the second detection signal line22provides the first switch control signal to control the screen detection circuit43to be in the turn-on status, and the screen detection circuit43provides the screen detection signal to the data lines data. As a result, the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines data display in response to the screen detection signal. In a case that the second signal detection line22includes a disconnection, the first switch control signal is be provided, and the screen detection circuit43is not controlled to be in the turn-on status. As a result, the screen detection signal is not provided to the data lines data, and the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines data do not form a display screen.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown inFIG.17, the second detection signal line22is electrically connected to the signal port s2of the screen detection circuit43, that is, is electrically connected to the input terminal of the screen detection circuit43to provide a screen detection signal to the screen detection circuit43. When performing crack detection, the screen detection circuit43controlled to be in the turn-on status in response to the second switch control signal, and provides the screen detection signal provided by the second detection signal line22to the data lines data, and the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines data form a display screen. In a case that the second detection signal line22includes a disconnection, the screen detection signal is not provided. Even if the screen detection circuit43is turned on under the control of the second switch control signal, the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines data do not form a display screen.

Based on the above description, no matter whether the second detection signal line provides the switch control signal or the screen detection signal, in a case that the second detection signal line includes a disconnection, the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines do not form a display screen. Hence, by using the crack detection method of the present disclosure, whether the second detection signal line includes a disconnection can be determined according to the display screen formed by the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines, and whether there is a crack in the display panel can be further determined.

In addition, by using the detection method of the present disclosure, whether the data lines and the sub-pixels have malfunctions may be determined according to whether the sub-pixels electrically connected to the data lines display a screen. In an embodiment, as shown inFIG.16orFIG.17, the screen detection circuit43is electrically connected to multiple data lines data in the display area. During detection, in a case that sub-pixels corresponding to one part of the multiple data lines data display a screen, while sub-pixels corresponding to another part of the multiple data lines data does not display a screen, the part of data lines data corresponding to the sub-pixels that do not display the screen have malfunction, resulting in the screen detection signal is not provided to the sub-pixels electrically connected the part of data lines data. In a case that a part of sub-pixels electrically connected to a data line data display a screen, while another part of sub-pixels electrically connected to the data line data do not display a screen, the part of sub-pixels that do not display the screen have malfunction.

In the crack detection method according to the present disclosure, in addition to the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line of the display panel are electrically connected through the fifth signal line, the first detection signal line and the second signal detection line may alternatively be not electrically connected. Therefore, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown inFIG.22, in the first direction x, the first detection signal line21is directly opposite to and is insulated from the second detection signal line22. In this case, the above step S1is shown as the step S14in the detection method inFIG.26. Referring toFIG.26, which is a flow chart of a crack detection method according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the method includes following steps S14and S23.

In S14, a third input signal is provided to the first detection signal line21, and detect a second impedance between the two terminals of the first detection signal line21, that is, the resistance between two terminals of the first detection signal line21, where the crack detection signal includes the second impedance.

Step S23is the same as the above step S2, including determining whether there is a crack in the display panel according to the crack detection signal. The crack detection signal is the impedance between the two terminals of the first detection signal line21. In a case that the first detection signal line21does not includes a disconnection, the measured impedance between two terminals of the first detection signal line21is a constant value. In a case that the first detection signal line21includes a disconnection, the measured impedance between the two terminals of the first detection signal line21is infinite. Therefore, by measuring the impedance between the two terminals of the first detection signal line21, whether the first detection signal line21includes a disconnection can be determined, and whether there is a crack in the screen body of the display panel is further determined.

On the basis of the above embodiments, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown inFIG.27, which is a flow chart of a crack detection method according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the method includes following steps S15and S24.

In S15, a fourth input signal is provided to the second detection signal line22, and a third impedance between two terminals of the second detection signal line22is detected, where the crack detection signal includes the third impedance.

After the crack detection signal is acquired, the crack detection method further includes following step S24.

Step S24is the same as the above step S2, including determining whether there is a crack in the display panel according to the crack detection signal. In an embodiment, in a case that the second detection signal line22does not include a disconnection, the measured impedance between the two terminals of the second detection signal line22is a constant value. In a case that the second detection signal line22includes a disconnection, the measured impedance between the two terminals of the second detection signal line22is infinite. Therefore, by measuring the impedance between the two terminals of the second detection signal line22, whether the second detection signal line22includes a disconnection can be determined, and whether there is a crack in the screen body of the display panel is further determined.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first detection signal line21is directly opposite to and is insulated from the second detection signal line22, and the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22form a capacitor. Whether there is a crack in the display panel may be determined by measuring the capacitance of the capacitor. Therefore, as shown inFIG.28, which is a schematic flowchart of a crack detection method according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a crack detection method includes following steps S16and S25.

In S16, a fifth input signal is provided to one of the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22, and a capacitance between the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22is detected, where the crack detection signal includes the capacitance. It should be noted that the capacitance between the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22may be measured by a multimeter. During measurement, two probes of the multimeter are respectively placed on the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line, to input an electrical signal to one of the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22to measure the capacitance value between the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22.

Step S25is the same as the above step S2, including determining whether there is a crack in the display panel according to the crack detection signal, that is, whether there is a crack in the display panel is determined according to the measured capacitance value.

The first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22form a capacitor, and the capacitance of the capacitor formed by the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22is a constant value. When performing crack detection, in a case that both the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22do not include a disconnection, the measured capacitance value is the above constant value, or approximately the above constant value. In a case that one or both of the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22include a disconnection, the measured capacitance value is not the above constant value. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, using the crack detection method to detect whether there is a crack in the display panel includes: detecting the capacitance between the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22, and comparing the measured capacitance value with the above constant value, that is, with the capacitance value when neither the first detection signal line21nor the second detection signal line22includes a disconnection, to determine whether there is a crack in the display panel.

It should be noted that whether the first detection signal line21includes a disconnection or the second detection signal line22includes a disconnection, the measured capacitance value is changed. Any one of the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22including a disconnecting indicates that there is a crack in the display panel. Therefore, in a case that the measured capacitance value is not the expected capacitance value, it is determined that there is a crack in the display panel. In addition, a disconnection in the first detection signal line21or the second detection signal line22divides the capacitor formed by the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line into multiple capacitors, and only one of the capacitors can be detected. Therefore, if the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22includes a disconnection, the measured capacitance value is reduced and is less than the above constant value, and it is determined that there is a crack in the display panel.

It should be noted that since the capacitance measurement is easily affected by other metal lines around the detection signal line, the display panel according to the present disclosure requires that there is no other metal line within 10 μm around the locations of the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22. However, in a case that other metal lines around the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22are unavoidable, the metal lines are required to be arranged symmetrically around the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22.

On the basis that there is no other metal line within 10 μm around the locations of the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22or metal lines are arranged symmetrically, if the measured capacitance between the first detection signal line21and the second detection signal line22is half of a preset capacitance value, there is a disconnection at the middle location of the first detection signal line21and/or the second detection signal line22.

As described above, when the display panel is subjected to different external forces, respective film layers in the display panel may receive different stresses. Hence, even if there is a crack in the display panel, the crack in the display panel cannot be detected through only the first detection signal line or the second detection signal line. In this case, both the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line are used to detect a crack in the display panel. Therefore, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, on the premise that the first detection signal line is directly opposite to and is insulated from the second detection signal line, after detecting the resistance of the first detection signal line and determining that the first detection signal line includes a disconnection, the resistance of the second detection signal line is detected to further determine whether there is a crack in the display panel, or the capacitance between the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line is detected to further determine whether there is a crack in the display panel. In this way, failure in detecting the crack in the display panel can be avoided.

In addition, if there are errors in the measurement results of the resistance detection and capacitance detection due to the failure of the detection device or other reasons, whether there is a crack in the display panel may be determined incorrectly. In order to avoid such situation, the crack detection method according to the present disclosure further includes: measuring the impedance between the two terminals of the first detection signal line, measuring the impedance between the two terminals of the second detection signal line, and measuring the capacitance between the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line, and combining results of the above measurements to determine whether there is a crack in the display panel, to avoid the situation of determining whether there is a crack in the display panel incorrectly.

For the crack detection method according to the present disclosure, if the first detection signal line or the second detection signal line is used to correctly determine whether there is a crack in the display panel, after using the first detection signal line or the second detection signal line to perform crack detection, there is no need to perform additional crack detection steps, to improve the operation efficiency of crack detection.

In summary, a display panel, an electronic device and a crack detection method are provided according to the present disclosure. The display panel includes: a substrate and a detection signal line located on a side of the substrate, where the detection signal line is located in the non-display area, and includes a first detection signal line and a second detection signal line arranged in sequence in a first direction. That is, the display panel includes two detection signal lines. In this way, while detecting cracks, the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line may be used to detect cracks in different manners, alternatively, the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line may be used to detect cracks in the same manner, to improve the reliability of crack detection. In addition, in a case that it is not required to use both the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line for crack detection, one of the first and second detection signal lines may be selected for crack detection according to the actual situation, to improve the efficiency of crack detection.

In addition, in the display panel, the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line are arranged in the direction perpendicular to the substrate on one side of the substrate, and the orthographic projections of the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line on the substrate are at least partially overlapped, that is, the projections of the first detection signal line and the second detection signal line are partially overlapped, or completely overlapped. In this way, the horizontal space occupied by the crack detection circuit can be reduced, to reduce the space occupied by the crack detection circuit in the non-display area, i.e., the frame area, which is beneficial to reduce the size of the frame area of the display panel to realize a design with a narrow frame to be in line with the development trend of narrow frames.

Each embodiment in this specification is described in a progressive, parallel, or progressive and parallel manner. Each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. The same and similar parts between the various embodiments can refer to each other. As for the device disclosed in the embodiment, since it corresponds to the method disclosed in the embodiment, the description is relatively simple, and the related information can refer to the description of the method part.

It should be noted that, in the description of the present disclosure, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationships indicated by the terms “upper”, “lower”, “top”, “bottom”, “inner” and “outer” are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, which are only for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the referred device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limitations to the present disclosure. When a component is considered to be “connected” to another component, it may be directly connected to another component or there may be an intermediate component at the same time.

It should be noted that, the relationship terms such as “first”, “second” and the like are only used herein to distinguish one entity or operation from another, rather than to necessitate or imply that an actual relationship or order exists between the entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms such as “include”, “comprise” or any other variants thereof means to be non-exclusive. Therefore, an article or a device including a series of elements include not only the disclosed elements but also other elements that are not clearly enumerated, or further include inherent elements of the article or the device. Unless expressively limited, the statement “including a . . . ” does not exclude the case that other similar elements may exist in the article or the device other than enumerated elements.