Patent ID: 12253771

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Technical solutions in embodiments of the present disclosure are clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Apparently, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments rather than all the embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by a person skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

In the present disclosure, unless otherwise explicitly specified and defined, a first feature being “over” or “below” a second feature may mean that the first feature and the second feature are in direct contact, or the first feature and the second feature are not in direct contact but are in contact through another feature therebetween. In addition, that the first feature is “above”, “over”, or “on” the second feature may include that the first feature is directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or may merely indicate that the horizontal height of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. That the first feature is “below”, “under”, and “beneath” the second feature may include that the first feature is right below the second feature and at an inclined bottom of the second feature, or may merely indicate that the horizontal position of the first feature is lower than that of the second feature.

Many different implementations or examples are provided below to implement different structures of the present disclosure. To simplify the disclosure of the present disclosure, the following describes components and settings of particular examples. Certainly, the components and settings are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. In addition, in the present disclosure, reference numbers and/or reference letters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is intended to simplify and clarify the present disclosure, and does not indicate a relationship between various implementations and/or settings that are discussed. In addition, the present disclosure provides examples of various particular processes and materials, but a person of ordinary skill in the art may be aware of application of another process and/or use of another material.

At present, because there are circuits distributed in the frame area of the liquid crystal display, and the transmission of electrical signals in the circuits is likely to cause signal interference, the deflection angles of liquid crystals in the frame area will be changed, resulting in light leakage in the frame area of the liquid crystal display, greatly affecting the display effect of the liquid crystal display.

To solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display panel. Referring toFIG.1andFIG.2, the display panel includes a display area AA and a frame area BA adjacent to the display area AA.

The display panel further includes an array substrate10, a light-shielding electrode11arranged on the array substrate10, and a light-shielding liquid crystal layer21arranged on a side of the light-shielding electrode11away from the array substrate10. The light-shielding electrode11is located in the frame area BA, and the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21is located in the frame area BA.

Further, the light-shielding electrode11is configured to control deflection angles of liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21to block light from passing through the frame area BA.

In practical applications, in the present embodiment of the present disclosure, the light-shielding electrode11is arranged on the array substrate10at the position corresponding to the frame area BA and is arranged opposite to the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21to control the deflection angles of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21, so as to prevent the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21from being affected by signal interference from a drive circuit in the frame area BA, and therefore prevent the deflection angles of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21from undergoing uncontrollable changes. Therefore, light will not pass through the frame area BA, so that leakage of light in the frame area BA is prevented, thereby improving the display effect of the display panel.

Specifically, referring toFIG.1,FIG.2andFIG.3, the display panel includes the display area AA, the frame area BA adjacent to the display area AA, and a circuit area CA located in the frame area BA.

The display panel further includes an array substrate10and a color filter substrate30arranged opposite to each other, and a liquid crystal layer20arranged between the array substrate10and the color filter substrate30.

Further, the array substrate10includes a first substrate14, a buffer layer16arranged on a side of the first substrate14close to the color filter substrate30, a separation layer13arranged on a side of the buffer layer16close to the color filter substrate30, and a thin film transistor device15received in the buffer layer16and the separation layer13.

The color filter substrate30includes a second substrate31and a common electrode layer32arranged on a side of the second substrate31facing the array substrate10.

It should be noted that the figures provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure show only part of structural layers of the array substrate10, the color filter substrate30, and the liquid crystal layer20in the display panel. In particular, the array substrate10further includes a signal line, a contact hole for connecting the signal line and the thin film transistor device15, and other electrode parts such as a touch electrode and a common electrode, the color filter substrate30may further include a color resist layer, a black matrix layer, and the like, the liquid crystal layer20may further include spacer pillars, a sealant arranged around the liquid crystal layer20, and the like. The above structures can be realized by conventional processes, so the details will not be repeated herein.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the display panel further comprises a light-shielding electrode11arranged on the array substrate10. The light-shielding electrode11is at least located in the circuit area CA. The liquid crystal layer20includes a display liquid crystal layer22located in the display area AA and the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21at least located in the circuit area CA, i.e., the light-shielding electrode11can control the deflection angles of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21, so as to prevent the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21from being affected by a drive circuit in the circuit area CA, and therefore prevent the deflection angles of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21from undergoing uncontrollable changes. Therefore, light will not pass through the frame area BA, so that leakage of light in the frame area BA is prevented, thereby improving the display effect of the display panel.

Optionally, the display liquid crystal layer22and the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21are integrally formed to form the liquid crystal layer20. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, for ease of description, corresponding to different areas, the display liquid crystal layer22and the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21are defined.

For the common electrode layer32of the color filter substrate30, the common electrode layer32includes a common electrode322located in the display area AA and a counter electrode321located in the circuit area CA. The counter electrode321and the light-shielding electrode11are arranged opposite to each other. The counter electrode321and the light-shielding electrode11cooperate to control the deflection angles of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21to block light from passing through the frame area BA.

Optionally, the counter electrode321may also be located in an area outside the circuit area CA, and the counter electrode321and the common electrode322are integrally formed and can be formed by a same process, which can reduce the number of processes required, thereby reducing the costs.

It should be noted that in practical applications, the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21is located between the light-shielding electrode11and the counter electrode321a first voltage may be applied to the light-shielding electrode11, a second voltage may be applied to the counter electrode321, and an electric field may be formed by controlling the values of the first voltage and the second voltage, to control the deflection angles of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21, so as to prevent light from passing through the frame area BA.

In addition, the display panel further includes a pixel electrode12arranged on the array substrate10. The pixel electrode12is located in the display area AA and is arranged opposite to the common electrode322. Voltages are respectively applied to the pixel electrode12and the common electrode322to control deflection angles of liquid crystals in the display liquid crystal layer22, so as to realize a display function of the corresponding display area AA of the display panel.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the pixel electrode12and the light-shielding electrode11are both located on the array substrate10, and belong to the same structural layer. Optionally, the pixel electrode12and the light-shielding electrode11are made of the same material by the same process, which can reduce the number of processes required, thereby reducing the costs.

Optionally, the pixel electrode12has a first slit, the light-shielding electrode11has a second slit, and the second slit is at least located on a side of the light-shielding electrode11close to the display area AA. An inclination direction of the first slit is the same as an inclination direction of the second slit. Therefore, when an alignment film is formed on the array substrate10and the alignment film is located on the pixel electrode12and the light-shielding electrode11, because the inclination direction of the second slit at least on the side of the light-shielding electrode11close to the display area AA is the same as the inclination direction of the first slit of the pixel electrode12, the first slit of the pixel electrode12and the second slit of the light-shielding electrode11have the same or similar film morphologies in their corresponding parts in the process of coating the alignment film and the alignment process. In this way, the side of the light-shielding electrode11close to the display area AA does not affect the formation of the alignment film in the display area AA, so that the alignment film in the display area AA has uniform alignment, thereby improving the yield rate of the alignment film.

Optionally, the display panel further includes a polarizer17stacked with the array substrate10, the light-shielding electrode11further includes a third slit, and the third slit is at least located on a side of the light-shielding electrode11away from the display area AA. An inclination direction of the third slit is parallel to or perpendicular to an optical axis direction of the polarizer17.

It should be noted that the polarizer17is located on a side of the array substrate10away from the color filter substrate30, the display panel further includes a counter polarizer33stacked with the color filter substrate30, and the counter polarizer33is located on a side of the color filter substrate30away from the array substrate10. The optical axis direction of the polarizer17is perpendicular to an optical axis direction of the counter polarizer33.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, liquid crystals in the liquid crystal layer20are vertical alignment liquid crystals, major axis directions of the liquid crystals are perpendicular to the array substrate10, the light-shielding electrode11has a third slit on at least a side thereof away from the display area AA, and an inclination direction of the third slit is parallel to the optical axis direction of the polarizer17. A polarization direction of first light passing through the polarizer17is a first direction. Because the inclination direction of the third slit is parallel to the optical axis direction of the polarizer17, major axis directions of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21can be better controlled to be parallel to the optical axis direction of the polarizer17, i.e., the first light is not polarized. In this embodiment, because liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21are vertical alignment liquid crystals, the light-shielding electrode11can better control major axis directions of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21to remain in a direction perpendicular to the array substrate10, so that the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21does not polarize the first light passing therethrough, i.e., the polarization direction of the first light remains in the first direction. When the first light reaches to one side of the color filter substrate30, the first light cannot pass through the counter polarizer33because the optical axis direction of the counter polarizer33is perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the polarizer17, i.e., perpendicular to the first direction, thereby providing a light-shielding effect.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, liquid crystals in the liquid crystal layer20are horizontal alignment liquid crystals, major axis directions of the liquid crystals are parallel to the array substrate10, the light-shielding electrode11has a third slit on at least a side thereof away from the display area AA, and an inclination direction of the third slit is perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the polarizer17. A polarization direction of first light passing through the polarizer17is a first direction. Because the inclination direction of the third slit is perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the polarizer17, major axis directions of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21can be better controlled to be perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the polarizer17, i.e., the first light cannot pass through the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21. In this embodiment, because liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21are horizontal alignment liquid crystals, the light-shielding electrode11can better control major axis directions of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21to remain in a direction parallel to the array substrate10, so that the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21blocks passage of the first light, thereby providing a light-shielding effect.

It should be noted that in the above two embodiments, the deflection angles of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21are controlled not to change, i.e., the deflection angles are 0°, so as to provide a light-shielding effect. Therefore, the first voltage applied to the light-shielding electrode11and the second voltage applied to the counter electrode321may be made the same or similar to each other, so as to control the deflection angles of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21not to change.

In addition, in still another embodiment of the present disclosure, for the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21having other types of liquid crystals, the values of the first voltage and the second voltage may be controlled so that major axis directions of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21are parallel to or perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the polarizer17, so as to provide a light-shielding effect.

Further, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the light-shielding electrode11may include only the second slit, or include only the third slit, or include both the second slit and the third slit, which will be described below through specific embodiments.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the light-shielding electrode11has a second slit, the pixel electrode12located in the display area AA has a first slit, and an inclination direction of the second slit is the same as an inclination direction of the first slit, so that the first slit of the pixel electrode12and the second slit of the light-shielding electrode11have the same or similar film morphologies in their corresponding parts in the process of coating the alignment film and the alignment process. In this way, the light-shielding electrode11does not affect the formation of the alignment film in the display area AA, so that the alignment film in the display area AA has uniform alignment, thereby improving the yield rate of the alignment film.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the light-shielding electrode11has a third slit, and an inclination direction of the third slit is parallel to or perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the polarizer17, so as to better control the deflection angles of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21, so that the major axis directions of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21are parallel to or perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the polarizer17, thereby providing a better light-shielding effect.

In still another embodiment of the present disclosure, the light-shielding electrode11has a second slit on a side thereof close to the display area AA, and the light-shielding electrode11has a third slit on a side thereof away from the display area AA. An inclination direction of the second slit is the same as the inclination direction of the first slit of the pixel electrode12, and an inclination direction of the third slit is perpendicular to or parallel to the optical axis direction of the polarizer17. In this way, the light-shielding electrode11does not affect the formation of the alignment film in the display area AA, so that the alignment film in the display area AA has uniform alignment. Therefore, the deflection angles of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21can be better controlled while improving the yield rate of the alignment film, so that the major axis directions of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21are parallel to or perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the polarizer17, thereby providing a better light-shielding effect.

In addition, referring toFIG.4, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the separation layer13includes a first portion located in the frame area BA and a second portion located in the display area AA, and a thickness of the first portion is greater than a thickness of the second portion. Optionally, the thickness of the first portion is greater than or equal to 1.8 μm.

It should be noted that the separation layer13further includes a third portion located in an area in the frame area BA other than the circuit area CA, and a thickness of the third portion may be equal to the thickness of the second portion (as shown inFIG.4) or may be equal to the thickness of the first portion (not shown). In this embodiment of the present disclosure, by increasing the thickness of the separation layer13located in the circuit area CA, signal interference between the light-shielding electrode11and the thin film transistor device15located in the circuit area CA can be reduced, thereby ensuring normal operation of the light-shielding electrode11and the thin film transistor device15.

In some other embodiments of the present disclosure, the thickness of the entire separation layer13may also be increased, i.e., the thickness of the separation layer13in the display area AA is the same as that in the frame area BA and is greater than or equal to 1.8 μm. In this way, not only signal interference between the light-shielding electrode11and the thin film transistor device15located in the circuit area CA can be reduced, but also the thickness difference of the film layer is avoided, thereby improving the yield rate of the process for the array substrate10.

Further, refer toFIG.3andFIG.5, which are respectively a schematic structural cross-sectional view and a schematic structural plane view of a corresponding circuit area CA of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. This embodiment of the present disclosure is described using an example where the circuit area CA is a GOA circuit, i.e., the circuit structure shown in the figure is a GOA drive circuit. The array substrate10includes a thin film transistor device15and a separation layer13covering the thin film transistor device15, and the light-shielding electrode11is arranged on the separation layer13.

Specifically, the thin film transistor device15may be a functional transistor in the GOA drive circuit, for example, a pull-up control switch, a pull-up switch, a pull-down switch, and a pull-down hold switch, and the thin film transistor device15is located below the light-shielding electrode11, covered by the separation layer13, and insulated from the light-shielding electrode11.

In addition, the separation layer13further includes at least one contact hole101located in the circuit area CA, and the array substrate10includes at least one wiring102arranged on the separation layer13and located in the circuit area CA. The wiring102is electrically connected to the thin film transistor device15through the contact hole101, to realize the input and output of signals to and from the GOA drive circuit.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, an orthographic projection of at least one of the at least one contact hole101on the separation layer13is located outside an orthographic projection of the light-shielding electrode on the separation layer13, and at least one of the at least one wiring102is spaced apart from, i.e., needs to be insulated from, the light-shielding electrode11. In other words, the light-shielding electrode11provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure is arranged in the circuit area CA, does not affect the normal operation of the drive circuit in the circuit area CA, and can also prevent leakage of light from the frame area BA of the display panel.

It should be noted that in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the light-shielding electrode11is at least arranged in the circuit area CA, i.e., the light-shielding electrode11may be arranged in the circuit area CA, or may be arranged in an area in the frame area BA other than the circuit area CA, or may be arranged corresponding to the entire frame area BA, so as to improve the light-shielding effect.

In addition, a signal line may be connected to the light-shielding electrode11, so as to apply a voltage to the light-shielding electrode11. When the frame area BA has a plurality of circuit areas CA, one light-shielding electrode11may be arranged for each of the circuit areas CA.

Optionally, a plurality of signal lines may be arranged, and each of the signal lines is correspondingly connected to one light-shielding electrode11. Each signal line may transmit the same or a different voltage signal. Depending on different drive circuits in the circuit areas CA corresponding to the light-shielding electrodes11, different voltage signals are transmitted. For example, the voltage signal of the light-shielding electrode11corresponding to the drive circuit that generates higher signal interference is different from the voltage signal of the light-shielding electrode11corresponding to the drive circuit that generates lower signal interference, so as to ensure that each light-shielding electrode11can provide a light-shielding effect.

Optionally, a bridge structure may be arranged between neighboring light-shielding electrodes11so as to connect the plurality of light-shielding electrodes11to each other, and a voltage signal is input to one of the light-shielding electrodes11, so that the plurality of light-shielding electrodes11all have the voltage signal, so as to control the deflection angles of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21.

Based on the above, in the present embodiment of the present disclosure, the light-shielding electrode11is arranged on the array substrate10at the position corresponding to the circuit area CA in the frame area BA and is arranged opposite to the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21to control the deflection angles of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21, so as to prevent the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21from being affected by signal interference from a drive circuit in the circuit area CA, and therefore prevent the deflection angles of the liquid crystals in the light-shielding liquid crystal layer21from undergoing uncontrollable changes. Therefore, light will not pass through the frame area BA, so that leakage of light in the frame area BA is prevented, thereby improving the display effect of the display panel.

According to the above objective of the present disclosure, a display device is provided, including the display panel. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the light-shielding electrode11is arranged in the frame area BA of the display panel, to alleviate the light leakage in the frame area BA of the display panel.

The display device provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure includes a large-size tiled display device, and the display device includes a plurality of display panels. The plurality of display panels are tiled to form the large-size tiled display device. Because the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure effectively alleviates the light leakage in the frame area BA of the display panel, the display effect of the large-size tiled display device is also improved, and therefore the yield rate is improved.

In the foregoing embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses, and for a part that is not described in detail in an embodiment, reference may be made to the relevant description of other embodiments.

The display panel and the display device provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail above. The principles and implementations of the present disclosure are described by using specific examples in this specification, and the descriptions of the embodiments are merely intended to help understand the methods and core ideas of the present disclosure. A person of ordinary skill in the art should understand that modifications may be still made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or equivalent replacements may be made to some technical features thereof, as long as such modifications or replacements do not make the essence of corresponding technical solutions depart from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure.