Patent ID: 12216345

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the sake of a better understanding of the technical solutions of the present disclosure, the embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It should be noted that the embodiments in the following descriptions are only a part rather than all of the embodiments in the present disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by those ordinarily skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without creative efforts should also fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Terms in the embodiments of the present disclosure are merely used to describe the specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Unless otherwise specified in the context, words, such as “a”, “the”, and “this”, in a singular form in the embodiments of the present disclosure and the appended claims include plural forms.

It should be understood that the term “and/or” in this specification merely describes associations between associated objects, and it indicates three types of relationships. For example, A and/or B may indicate that A exists alone, A and B coexist, or B exists alone. In addition, the character “/” in this specification generally indicates that the associated objects are in an “or” relationship.

Before illustration of the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, the problems in the prior art are first described in the present disclosure:

FIG.1is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel in the prior art;FIG.2is a cross-sectional view of the display panel ofFIG.1along a direction A1-A2;FIG.3is a cross-sectional view of the display panel ofFIG.1along a direction B1-B2. As shown inFIG.1toFIG.3, the display panel includes a display area1′ and a bezel area2′, wherein display functional devices for displaying pictures are disposed in the display area1′, and peripheral circuits and peripheral lines for providing driving signals to the display functional devices are disposed in the bezel area2′.

The display panel further includes a first substrate3′ and a second substrate4′ that are disposed opposite to each other; an encapsulation adhesive8′ and support columns5′ are disposed between the first substrate3′ and the second substrate4′. The encapsulation adhesive8′ is located in the bezel area2′. During encapsulation of the display panel, laser sintering is performed on the encapsulation adhesive8′, to fix the second substrate4′ and the first substrate3′ by using the encapsulation adhesive8′. The support columns5′ are used for supporting the second substrate4′, to form a uniform thickness.

In the prior art, when the support columns5′ are formed, in addition to first support columns6′ formed in the display area1′, several cycles of support columns5′ are further expanded to the bezel area2′ to form second support columns7′ in the bezel area2′, to improve the support performance of the bezel area2′.FIG.1shows an example of expanding one circle of second support columns7′. Moreover, the second support column7′ has the same size as the first support column6′.

At present, different side bezels of a display panel generally have different bezel widths in a practical product structure.

For example, referring toFIG.1again, the bezel area2′ includes a left bezel9′, a right bezel10′, an upper bezel11′ and a lower bezel12′, wherein the left bezel9′ and the right bezel10′ are located on two opposite sides of the display area1′ in a row direction; the upper bezel11′ and the lower bezel12′ are located on two opposite sides of the display area1′ in a column direction.

In the existing panel structure, it is more likely to design the left bezel9′ and the right bezel10′ to be ultra-narrow bezels. Therefore, in the prior art, the bezel widths of the left bezel9′ and the right bezel10′ of the display panel are obviously less than the bezel widths of the upper bezel11′ and the lower bezel12′. The left bezel9′ and the right bezel10′ are used for accommodating peripheral circuits that provide driving signals, e.g., shift register circuits. Circuit types and quantities of peripheral circuits to be disposed in the two bezels are different. Therefore, in the prior art, it is necessary to design asymmetrical bezel widths of the left bezel9′ and the right bezel10′.

Because different side bezels of the display panel have different bezel widths, after the second support columns7′ are expanded in the bezel area2′, second support columns7′ in different side bezels have different distances to the encapsulation adhesive8′. With reference toFIG.1toFIG.3, a distance d3′ from the second support column7′ in the upper bezel11′ to the encapsulation adhesive8′ and a distance d4′ from the second support column7′ in the lower bezel12′ to the encapsulation adhesive8′ are obviously greater than a distance d1′ from the second support column7′ in the left bezel9′ to the encapsulation adhesive8′ and a distance d2′ from the second support column7′ in the right bezel10′ to the encapsulation adhesive8′. Moreover, the distance d1′ from the second support column7′ in the left bezel9′ to the encapsulation adhesive8′ is also different from the distance d2′ from the second support column7′ in the right bezel10′ to the encapsulation adhesive8′.

It can be understood that, when laser sintering is performed on the encapsulation adhesive8′ to fix the two substrates, the second substrate4′ will inevitably exert a downward pressure to the first substrate3′. A larger force is exerted by the second substrate4′ at a position closer to the encapsulation adhesive8′, and accordingly, the second support column7′ receives a larger force. Because the second support columns7′ in different side bezels have different distances to the encapsulation adhesive8′, the forces on the second support columns7′ in different side bezels are uneven. As a result, the second support columns7′ are easily crushed.

If the second support columns7′ are crushed, the support strength of the second support columns7′ decreases. In this case, the deformation resistance of the display panel is deteriorated, and second substrate4′, when being pressed down, may further crush the first support columns6′ in the display area1′ which are close to the encapsulation adhesive8′, which undoubtedly aggravates the non-uniformity of the cell thickness and affects the display performance, for example, Newton's rings are produced. Especially, a display panel with a narrow-bezel design has a limited bezel width, and only one or two cycles of second support columns7′ may be expanded in the bezel area2; after the second support columns7′ are crushed, the first support columns6′ also have a higher risk of being crushed, which deteriorates the display effect.

In addition, during design of the size of the support column5′, since the first support column6′ is not allowed to shield normal light emitting of the display panel, the first support column6′ needs to have a relatively small size. In the prior art, the support columns5′ in the entire display panel are designed with the same size. Therefore, the second support column7′ also has a relatively small size, resulting in a small, stressed area and low support strength of the second support column7′. The second support column7′ is more easily crushed when being pressed.

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a structure, as shown inFIG.4, which is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this structure, the number of rows of expanded second support columns7′ in different side bezels can be adaptively adjusted according to the bezel widths of different side bezels.

For example, in the upper bezel11′ and the lower bezel12′ with relatively large bezel widths, more rows of second support columns7′ may be expanded, while in the left bezel9′ and the right bezel10′ with relatively small bezel widths, fewer rows of second support columns7′ are expanded. Alternatively, for the left bezel9′ and the right bezel10′ with asymmetrical bezel widths, the second support columns7′ may be expanded by different rows in the two bezels.

In existing display panels, the bezel width of each bezel and the design size of the support column5′ do not necessarily satisfy a certain proportional relation. By merely adjusting the number of rows of expanded second support columns7′ in different side bezels, the support stability of the second support columns7′ in some bezels (such as the upper bezel11′ and the lower bezel12′) can be improved, but the problem of different distances from the second support columns7′ in different side bezels to the encapsulation adhesive8′ cannot be solved.

For example, even if the number of rows of expanded second support columns7′ in the upper bezel11′ is increased, but it is still impossible to make the distance from the second support column7′ in the upper bezel11′ to the encapsulation adhesive8′ equal to the distances from the second support columns7′ in the left and right bezels to the encapsulation adhesive8′. Or, even if the numbers of rows of expanded second support columns7′ in the left bezel9′ and the right bezel10′ is adjusted, it is still impossible to make the distances from the second support columns7′ in the left and right bezels to the encapsulation adhesive8′ equal.

Accordingly, the present disclosure shows that the two structures. In the first structure, two rows of second support columns7′ are expanded at the lower bezel12′ of the display panel, and one row of second support columns7′ are expanded in other bezels; in the second structure, three rows of second support columns7′ are expanded at the lower bezel12′ of the display panel, and two rows of second support columns7′ are expanded in other bezels. Upon testing, it is found that Newton's rings visual effects of the two structures are not significantly different, which indicates that compared with the first structure, the second structure, even with the number of rows of expanded second support columns7′ being adjusted, cannot alleviate the problem of poor display effect caused by unevenly distributed forces on the second support columns7′.

Particularly, for display products such as a mobile phone, the display panel of such a display product is generally in the shape of a rectangle or a rectangle with rounded corners, and the lengths of different side bezels in such a display panel are greatly different, wherein the lengths of the left and right bezels are obviously greater than the lengths of the upper and lower bezels. Therefore, the problem of unevenly distributed forces on the second support columns7′ is more severe in such display panels.

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a display panel suitable to address and alleviate the problem of unevenly distributed forces on the second support columns in different side bezels.

FIG.5is another schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG.6is a cross-sectional view ofFIG.5along a direction C1-C2. As shown inFIG.5andFIG.6, the display panel includes a display area1and a bezel area2. The display panel further includes: a first support structure3located in the display area1, the first support structure3including a plurality of first support portions4; an encapsulation adhesive5located in the bezel area2, wherein the encapsulation adhesive5extends along an edge of the display area1, and the encapsulation adhesive5in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be Frit, which contains a laser absorption pigment and is melt after absorbing laser, thereby achieving a good bonding effect and desirable sealing effect; a second support structure6located in the bezel area2, the second support structure6extending along the edge of the display area1and being located on a side of the encapsulation adhesive5that faces towards the display area1.

At different positions of the bezel area2, the second support structure6and the encapsulation adhesive5are at an equal distance from each other within a preset error range; moreover, the second support structure6includes at least one second support portion7. In a direction perpendicular to a plane in which the display panel is located, at least some of the second support portions7each has an orthographic projection area larger than an orthographic projection area of the first support portion4.

It should be noted that, the support structure in the display panel is generally formed by etching an organic film. Depending on the etching precision, an actual forming position of the support structure may have some deviations. The foregoing expression that “the second support structure6and the encapsulation adhesive5are at an equal distance from each other within the preset error range” means that the two are at an equal distance from each other within a machining error range. For example, the preset error range may be less than or equal to 5 μm. Definitely, with high machining precision, the second support structure6and the encapsulation adhesive5may be directly at an equal distance from each other at different positions of the bezel area2.

When laser sintering is performed on the encapsulation adhesive5, the encapsulation adhesive5is melted, causing the second substrate9on the upper side to exert a downward pressure on the first substrate10on the lower side. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the second support structure6and the encapsulation adhesive5are set to be at an equal distance from each other at different bezel positions, so that the second support structure6is under the same stress condition at any position, to improve the stress uniformity of the second support structure6at different positions, thereby effectively reducing the risk of crushing the second support structure6in an encapsulation process.

Moreover, compared with the first support portion4, the second support portion7in the second support structure6has an increased design size in the embodiments of the present disclosure, so that the second support portion7has a larger stressed area, and when the second substrate9exerts a downward pressure, the bearing capacity of the second support portion7can be improved, to further avoid the second support structure6from being crushed.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the second support structure6has higher support stability, and the display panel has higher resistance to deformation, which can prevent the first support portions4in the display area1which are close to the encapsulation adhesive5from being crushed when the second substrate9exerts a downward pressure, so that the first support portions4also have high support stability, thereby improving cell thickness uniformity of the display panel and enhancing display performance.

It should be noted that, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the design size of the second support portion7is no longer restricted by the design size of the first support portion4. Therefore, the size of the second support portion7can better fit the bezel width at the position where it is located. For example, for the upper bezel and the lower bezel with relatively large bezel widths, the second support portions7in part of the bezels can be designed to be relatively large, so that the distance from the second support portion7in the lower bezel to the encapsulation adhesive5is equal to the distances from the second support portions7in the left and right bezels to the encapsulation adhesive5. Alternatively, for the left bezel and right bezel with asymmetrical bezel widths, the second support portion7in the two bezels may be designed to have different sizes, so that the distances from the second support portions7in the left and right bezels to the encapsulation adhesive5are equal.

In an implementation, referring toFIG.5again, the distance between the second support structure6and the encapsulation adhesive5is L, wherein L≤75 μm.

It may be understood that, when laser sintering is performed on the encapsulation adhesive5, the second substrate9exerts a larger downward pressure at a position closer to the encapsulation adhesive5, and the display panel is deformed more severely. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, by setting L to be less than or equal to 75 μm, the distance between the second support structure6and the encapsulation adhesive5is very small. In this case, the second support structure6is closer to the encapsulation adhesive5, to provide a more stable support for the cell thickness near the encapsulation adhesive5. This can further improve the uniformity of cell thickness between positions near the encapsulation adhesive5and other positions while improving the stress uniformity of the second support columns at different bezel positions, thereby improving the overall cell thickness of the display panel.

Further,FIG.7is further another schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;FIG.8is a cross-sectional view ofFIG.7along a direction D1-D2. As shown inFIG.7andFIG.8, the second support structure6may be in contact with the encapsulation adhesive5. In other words, a sidewall of the second support structure6that is away from the display area1is in contact with a sidewall of the encapsulation adhesive5that faces towards the display area1. In this case, the distance between the second support structure6and the encapsulation adhesive5is zero, and the second support structure6provides higher support strength near the encapsulation adhesive5.

In an implementation, referring toFIG.1again, at different positions of the bezel areas2, orthographic projection of the second support structure6in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the display panel is located and the display area1are at an equal distance from each other within a preset error range.

As described above, the expression that “the orthographic projection of the second support structure6and the display area1are at an equal distance from each other within a preset error range” means that the two are at an equal distance within a machining error range. For example, the preset error range may be less than or equal to 5 μm. Definitely, with high machining precision, the orthographic projection of the second support structure6and the display area1may be directly at an equal distance from each other at different positions of the bezel area2.

At different bezel positions, the second support structure6and the display area1are further made to be at equal distances from each other, which can improve the stress uniformity of the second support structure6near the display area1. When laser sintering is performed on the encapsulation adhesive5, the second support structure6can better bear the pressure near the display area1, to reduce the risk of crushing the second support structure6near the display area1due to uneven stress distribution, so that the second support structure6provides a more stable support near the display area1, thereby further reducing the risk of crushing the first support portions4in the display area1which are close to the encapsulation adhesive5.

Further,FIG.9is still another schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;FIG.10is a cross-sectional view of the display panel ofFIG.9along a direction E1-E2. As shown inFIG.9andFIG.10, in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the display panel is located, an edge of the orthographic projection of the second support structure6coincides with the edge of the display area1. In other words, orthographic projection of the sidewall, which is close to the display area1, of the second support structure6is located at the edge of the display area1. In this case, the distance between the second support structure6and the display area1is zero, and the second support structure6provides higher support strength near the display area1.

It should be noted that, in other optional embodiments of the present disclosure,FIG.11is still another schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.11, the second support structure6is in contact with the encapsulation adhesive5; moreover, in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the display panel is located, the edge of the orthographic projection of the second support structure6further coincides with the edge of the display area1. In this way, the area between the encapsulation adhesive5and the display area1is completely filled by the second support structure6; the second support structure6has a larger stressed area, and can better bear the pressure caused by encapsulation.

In an implementation,FIG.12is still another schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.12, the second support structure6is in communication with its neighboring first support portion4. In this case, the second support structure6overlaps with the edge of the display area1, i.e., overlaps with an interface between the display area1and the bezel area2. When laser sintering is performed on the encapsulation adhesive5, the second support structure6can bear the pressure at the interface, which not only improves the cell thickness uniformity between the display area1and the bezel area2but also further reduces the risk of crushing the first support portions4near the interface.

In an implementation,FIG.13is still another schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.13, the bezel area2includes a first sub-area11and a second sub-area12. The first sub-area11has a width W11in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction thereof, the second sub-area12has a width W12in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction thereof, and W11<W12. The second support structure6in the first sub-area11has a width W21in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction thereof, the second support structure6in the second sub-area12has a width W22in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction thereof, and W21<W22.

For the second sub-area12with a relatively large bezel width, the width of the second support structure6in the second sub-area12is increased, so that the width of the second support structure6in the second sub-area12better fits the bezel width of the second sub-area12while the second support structure6in the second sub-area12has a larger stressed area, thereby making the second support structures6in the second sub-area12and the first sub-area11have equal distances to the encapsulation adhesive5.

Further, referring toFIG.13again, the first sub-area11and the second sub-area12extend along straight lines respectively.

For example, referring toFIG.13again, when the display panel is in a shape of a regular square, the bezel area2of the display panel includes four straight-line bezels: a left bezel13, a right bezel14, an upper bezel15and a lower bezel16, wherein the left bezel13and the right bezel14are located on two opposite sides of the display area1in a row direction; the upper bezel15and the lower bezel16are located on two opposite sides of the display area1in a column direction. The first sub-area11and the second sub-area12may be any two of the left bezel13, the right bezel14, the upper bezel15, and the lower bezel16.

Alternatively,FIG.14is still another schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.14, the second sub-area12extends along an arc, and the first sub-area11extends along a straight line.

At present, display panels in wearable display products are mostly in the shape of a square with rounded corners. Referring toFIG.14again, in addition to the left bezel13, the right bezel14, the upper bezel15, and the lower bezel16that extend along straight lines, the bezel area2of the display panel further includes four corner bezels17that extend along arcs, wherein the four corner bezels17are in communication with the left bezel13and the right bezel14, with the right bezel14and the upper bezel15, with the upper bezel15and the lower bezel16, and with the lower bezel16and the left bezel13respectively.

Compared with the four straight-line bezels, the corner bezels17have larger bezel widths. Accordingly, the second support structure6in the corner bezels17is provided with a larger width, so that the distance from the second support structure6in the corner bezels17to the encapsulation adhesive5is equal to the distance from the second support structure6in the four straight-line bezels to the encapsulation adhesive5. The first sub-area11may be any one of the four corner bezels17, and the second sub-area12may be any one of the left bezel13, the right bezel14, the upper bezel15, and the lower bezel16.

Moreover, after the second support structure6in the corner bezels17is provided with a larger width, the second support structure6in the corner bezels17has a larger stressed area, thereby achieving higher support strength.FIG.15is a test chart in a case that no second support structure is provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;FIG.16is a test chart of a straight-line bezel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;FIG.17is a test chart of a corner bezel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.15toFIG.17, values in the figures represent deformation resistances of corresponding areas, wherein a larger value of a deformation resistance indicates that the display panel is more easily deformed, and the cell thickness uniformity of the display panel is more easily affected.

Compared withFIG.15, it can be learned from data inFIG.16that, after the second support structure6is disposed in the straight-line bezel, the deformation resistances corresponding to all the areas are reduced. For example, the minimum deformation resistance inFIG.16is −0.00030448, which is reduced by 13.23% compared with the minimum deformation resistance −0.00035092 inFIG.15, indicating that the deformation resistance of the display panel is improved after the second support structure6is disposed in the straight-line bezel.

Compared withFIG.15, it can be learned from data inFIG.17that, after the second support structure6is disposed in the corner bezel, the deformation resistances corresponding to all the areas are also reduced. For example, the minimum deformation resistance inFIG.17is −0.00027573, which is reduced by 21.43% compared with the minimum deformation resistance −0.00035092 inFIG.15, indicating that the deformation resistance of the display panel is improved after the second support structure6is disposed in the corner bezel.

In addition, by comparingFIG.16withFIG.17, it can be learned that the minimum deformation resistance in the corner bezel is lower than the minimum deformation resistance in the straight-line bezel, indicating that the deformation resistance of the display panel is improved after the second support structure6with a larger width is disposed in the corner bezel.

In an implementation, referring toFIG.13andFIG.14again, the second support structure6includes only one second support portion7, and the second support portion7extends along the edge of the display area1. In this case, the second support portion7has a large, stressed area, which can provide a stable support for all the positions of the bezel area2, thereby further improving the cell thickness uniformity of the display panel.

Further, when the second support portion7continuously extends along the edge of the display area1, to further improve the bearing capacity of the second support portion7so as to better bear the pressure caused by the encapsulation, referring toFIG.11, in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the display panel is located, orthographic projection of the second support portion7may cover an area between the encapsulation adhesive5and the display area1, that is, the area between the display area1and the encapsulation adhesive5is completely filled with the second support portion7.

In an implementation,FIG.18is still another schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.18, the second support structure6includes at least two second support portions7, and a slit18is provided between every two adjacent second support portions7.

The second support structure6is usually formed by an organic material. During the process of an organic film, some gas will remain inside the organic film. The gas will not only lead to uneven surface of the organic film, but also further penetrate the display area1, to adversely affect the display functional devices in display area1. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, by arranging a plurality of second support portions7at intervals, in the process of the second support structure6, the gas in the organic film may be released by etching the slits18, to prevent the residual gas in the organic film from affecting the film layer flatness of the second support portions7and prevent the residual gas in the organic film from affecting the device performance of the display functional devices.

FIG.19is still another schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.19, the slit18continuously extends along the edge of the display area1.

On one hand, the second support portions7divided based on the slit18are structures that continuously extend along the edge of the display area1; in this case, the second support structure6not only can provide a stable support for positions near the encapsulation adhesive5but also can provide a stable support for positions near the display area1. On the other hand, the slit18is relatively long, and can release more gas in the organic film to reduce the residual gas.

With reference toFIG.15, as shown inFIG.20,FIG.20is a test chart in a case that a slit in a second support structure continuously extends along an edge of a display area according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Compared withFIG.15, it can be learned from data shown inFIG.20that, deformation resistances corresponding to all the areas are also reduced after the second support structure6as shown inFIG.19is disposed. For example, the minimum deformation resistance inFIG.20is −0.00031711, which is reduced by 11.41% compared with the minimum deformation resistance −0.00035092 inFIG.15, indicating that the deformation resistance of the display panel is improved after the second support structure6as shown inFIG.19is disposed in the bezel area2.

Alternatively, referring toFIG.18again, an extension direction of the slit18intersects the extension direction of the edge of the display area1. The slit18with such a structure is relatively short. When space for disposing the second support structure6is fixed, the coverage of the second support portion7can be increased accordingly, that is, the stressed area of the second support portion7is increased, thereby improving the support performance of the second support structure6.

Further,FIG.21is a schematic structural diagram of first slits according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.21, the bezel area2includes a first sub-area11, wherein the first sub-area11extends along a straight line. With reference toFIG.13, the first sub-area11may be any one of the left bezel13, the right bezel14, the upper bezel15, and the lower bezel16. The first sub-area11includes at least two second support portions7; in the first sub-area11, the slit18between two adjacent second support portions7is a first slit19. To further reduce an extension length of the first slit19to increase the stressed area of the second support portion7, an extension direction y1of the first slit19is made perpendicular to an extension direction x1of the first sub-area11.

With reference toFIG.15, as shown inFIG.22,FIG.22is another test chart of a straight-line bezel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Compared withFIG.15, it can be learned from data shown inFIG.22that, deformation resistances corresponding to all the areas are reduced after the second support structure6as shown inFIG.21is disposed in the straight-line bezel. For example, the minimum deformation resistance inFIG.22is −0.00031088, which is reduced by 9.63% compared with the minimum deformation resistance −0.00035092 inFIG.15, indicating that the deformation resistance of the display panel is improved after the foregoing support structure is disposed in the straight-line bezel.

Alternatively,FIG.23is a schematic structural diagram of second slits according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.23, the bezel area2includes a second sub-area12, wherein the second sub-area12extends along an arc. With reference toFIG.14, the second sub-area12may be any one of the four corner bezels17. The second sub-area12includes at least two second support portions7. In the second sub-area12, the slit18between two adjacent second support portions7is a second slit20. To further reduce an extension length of the second slit20so as to increase the stressed area of the second support portion7, an intersection between an extended line of the second slit20and an edge of the second sub-area12is set to be a first intersection21, and an extension direction y2of the second slit20is made perpendicular to a tangent direction x2of the edge of the second sub-area12at the first intersection21.

It should be noted that, in other optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the slit18may also extend in other manners. For example, the slit18may extend diagonally as shown inFIG.24, or extend in any other irregular direction. However, it should be noted that, compared with other extension manners, by setting the extension direction of the slit18to be perpendicular to the extension direction of the bezel where it is located or to be perpendicular to the tangent direction, at the first intersection21, of the edge of the bezel where it is located, the display panel can achieve a better deformation resistance.

With reference toFIG.15andFIG.22, as shown inFIG.25,FIG.25is a test chart in a case that slits extend diagonally according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Compared withFIG.15, it can be learned from data shown inFIG.25that, deformation resistances corresponding to all the areas are reduced after the second support structure6as shown inFIG.24is disposed in the bezel area2. For example, the minimum deformation resistance inFIG.25is −0.00031883, which is reduced by 9.14% compared with the minimum deformation resistance −0.00035092 inFIG.15, indicating that the deformation resistance of the display panel is improved after the second support structure6is disposed. However, compared withFIG.22, the deformation resistances inFIG.25are reduced by a smaller degree, indicating that when the slits18extend diagonally, the deformation resistance of the display panel is slightly lower than that of the display panel in which the slits18extend along an extension direction perpendicular to the bezel where it is located.

In an implementation,FIG.26is still another schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.26, the second support structure6includes a plurality of second support portions7, wherein the second support portions7include a 1stsecond support portion22and a 2ndsecond support portion23, and the 1stsecond support portion22is located on a side of the 2ndsecond support portion23that is away from the display area1. Moreover, in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the display panel is located, orthographic projection area of the 1stsecond support portion22is larger than orthographic projection area of the 2ndsecond support portion23.

In an optional implementation, in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the display panel is located, the orthographic projection area of the 2ndsecond support portion23is larger than the orthographic projection area of the 1stsecond support portion22, that is, design sizes of the 1stsecond support portion22and the 2ndsecond support portion23are both larger than the design size of the first support portion4. Alternatively, in another possible implementation, the orthographic projection of the 2ndsecond support portion23has an area equal to that of the orthographic projection of the 1stsecond support portion 1stsecond support portion22, that is, the design size of the 2ndsecond support portion23is the same as the design size of the first support portion4, and only the design size of the 1stsecond support portion22is larger than that of the first support portion4.

When the second support portions7in the second support structure6are designed to have different sizes, by arranging the 1stsecond support portion22with a larger size and higher bearing capacity to be closer to the encapsulation adhesive5, the support strength of the second support structure6near the encapsulation adhesive5can be better improved, to bear the pressure near the encapsulation adhesive5, thereby further reducing the risk of crushing the second support structure6.

In an implementation, the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel.

FIG.27is cross-sectional view of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.27, when the display panel is an OLED display panel, the display panel further includes: an array substrate24and a cell-assembled substrate25that are disposed opposite to each other, wherein the array substrate24is the first substrate10mentioned above, the cell-assembled substrate25is the second substrate9mentioned above, and the cell-assembled substrate25specifically may be a glass cover plate; a circuit layer26located in the array substrate24, wherein the circuit layer includes a plurality of transistors27, and each transistor includes an active layer28, a gate29located on a side of the active layer28that faces towards the cell-assembled substrate25, and a source30and a drain31that are located on a side of the gate29which faces towards the cell-assembled substrate25; and a light-emitting device layer32located in the array substrate24, wherein the light-emitting device layer32is located on a side of the circuit layer that faces towards the cell-assembled substrate25.

The light-emitting device layer32includes: an anode layer33; a pixel definition layer34located on a side of the anode layer33that faces away from the circuit layer, wherein the pixel definition layer34includes an opening, and at least a part of the anode layer33is exposed in the opening; and a light-emitting layer35located in the opening. The first support structure3and the second support structure6are located on a side of the pixel definition layer34that faces away from the pixel definition layer34.

In the foregoing structure, in addition to providing a stable support for the cell-assembled substrate25, the first support structure3and the second support structure6are further used for supporting a mask plate that forms the light-emitting layer35in the process of the display panel. When the second support structure6provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure is used, the second support structure6with higher support stability can provide a stable support for the mask plate, thereby further improving the process precision of the light-emitting layer35.

In addition, the light-emitting device layer32further includes a cathode layer36, wherein the cathode layer36is located on a side of the first support structure3and the second support structure6that faces away from the pixel definition layer34. In the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the display panel is located, the orthographic projection of the cathode layer36covers the display area1.

In addition, it should be further noted that, in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the display panel is located, the orthographic projection of the first support structure3does not overlap with the orthographic projection of the light-emitting layer35, to prevent the first support structure3from shielding light emitted from the light-emitting layer35.

Alternatively, the display panel provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) display panel.

FIG.28is another cross-sectional view of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.28, when the display panel is a LCD display panel, the display panel further includes: an array substrate24and a color filter substrate38that are disposed opposite to each other, wherein the array substrate24is the first substrate10mentioned above, and the color filter substrate38is the second substrate9mentioned above; and a liquid crystal layer39located between the array substrate24and the color filter substrate38. The first support structure3and the second support structure6are located between the array substrate24and the color filter substrate38.

It should be noted that, the display panel further includes a circuit layer26located in the array substrate24, wherein the circuit layer includes a plurality of transistors27, and each transistor includes an active layer28, a gate29located on a side of the active layer28that faces towards the cell-assembled substrate25, and a source30and a drain31that are located on a side of the gate29which faces towards the cell-assembled substrate25.

In addition, the display panel further includes a pixel electrode40and a common electrode41that are located on a side of the circuit layer which faces towards the color filter substrate38. The circuit layer26is configured to provide a driving current to the pixel electrode40, so that liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer39rotate under the effect of an electrical field formed by the pixel electrode40and the common electrode41, thereby displaying a picture.

In addition, it should be further noted that, a black matrix42and a color photoresist43may be arranged on a side of the color filter substrate38, the color photoresist43is used for converting white light into color light, and the black matrix42is used for limiting a light-emitting area of the display panel. To prevent the first support structure3from shielding light emitted by the display panel, in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the display panel is located, the orthographic projection of the first support structure3is located within the orthographic projection of the black matrix42.

In addition, it should be emphasized that the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to display products of any shapes. For example, referring toFIG.13andFIG.14, the technical solutions can be applied to a display product having a display panel in a shape of a rectangle or a rectangle with rounded corners, such as a mobile phone or a watch. Alternatively,FIG.29is still another schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; as shown inFIG.29, the technical solutions can further be applied to a special-shaped display product having a display panel in a shape of a circle or an oval. For display panels in whichever shapes, after the application of the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, the stress uniformity of the support structures in the bezel area2can be effectively improved.

Based on the same inventive concept, the embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a display apparatus.FIG.30is a schematic structural diagram of a display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.30, the display apparatus includes the foregoing display panel100, wherein the specific structure of the display panel100as described in detail in the foregoing embodiments, and details are not described herein again. Certainly, the display apparatus shown inFIG.30is for schematic description only. The display apparatus may be any electronic device with a display function, such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, an ebook, or a television.

The above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, and the like made within the spirit and principle of the present disclosure shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are merely intended to describe the technical solutions of the present disclosure, rather than to limit the present disclosure. Although the present disclosure is described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, persons of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they may still make modifications to the technical solutions described in the above embodiments or make equivalent replacements to some or all technical features thereof, without departing from the essence of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure.