Patent ID: 12256623

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments. It is apparent that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by a person skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without creative efforts are within the scope of the present application. In addition, it should be understood that the specific implementations described here are only used to illustrate and explain the present application, and are not used to limit the present application. In the present application, unless otherwise stated, the orientation words used such as “upper” and “lower” generally refer to the upper and lower directions of the device in actual use or working state, and specifically refer to the drawing directions in the drawings, while “inner” and “outer” refer to the outline of the device.

Embodiments of the present application provide an OLED display panel and electronic device, which will be described in detail below. It should be noted that the order of description in the following embodiments is not intended to limit the preferred order of the embodiments.

The present application provides an OLED display panel, which includes a display main body and an encapsulation structure. The display main body has a display area and a non-display area defined at a periphery of the display area. The encapsulation structure is arranged at one side of the display main body, wherein the encapsulation structure extends from the display area to the non-display area, the encapsulation structure includes a first organic layer, a first inorganic layer, and a second organic layer that are sequentially stacked, and the second organic layer covers a side surface of the first organic layer.

Therefore, in the OLED display panel provided by the present application, the OLED display panel provided by the present application provides the first organic layer and the second organic layer in the encapsulation structure, and the second organic layer covers the side surface of the first organic layer. When external water vapor intrudes into the encapsulation structure from an edge of the panel, if the inorganic layer at the edge of the panel has a decreased water resistance or cracks, the external water vapor will first enter the second organic layer and then the first organic layer, so that the arrangement of the two organic layers is configured to prolong an intrusion path of the water vapor and delay a time of water vapor intrusion into the display area, thereby improving an encapsulation effect at the edge of the OLED display panel.

The OLED display panel provided by the present application will be described in detail below through specific embodiments.

Referring toFIG.1, the Embodiment 1 of the present application provides an OLED display panel100. The OLED display panel100includes a display main body10and an encapsulation structure20. The display main body10has a display area101and a non-display area102provided at a periphery of the display area101. The encapsulation structure20is provided at one side of the display main body10. The encapsulation structure20extends from the display area101to the non-display area102. The encapsulation structure20includes a first organic layer21, a first inorganic layer22, and a second organic layer23arranged in sequence. The second organic layer23covers a side surface of the first organic layer21.

Specifically, the display main body10includes a driving substrate11, a light-emitting layer12, a first electrode13, and an optical cover layer14.

The driving substrate11may be a thin film transistor substrate. The thin film transistor substrate includes a base and a metal oxide thin film transistor (not shown) disposed on the base, and the related technologies are all existing technologies, and will not be repeated herein for brevity.

The light-emitting layer12is disposed on the driving substrate11and located in the display area101. The first electrode13covers a side of the light-emitting layer12away from the driving substrate11. The first electrode13extends from the display area101to the non-display area102. The first electrode13may be an anode or a cathode. In this embodiment, the first electrode13is a cathode. In this case, an anode (not shown) is provided on the side of the driving substrate11close to the light-emitting layer12, and the related technologies are all existing technologies, and will not be repeated herein for brevity.

The optical cover layer14covers the side of the first electrode13away from the light-emitting layer12. A material of the optical cover layer14may be an organic material with a high refractive index.

It should be noted that the drawings in the present application only illustrate the structure of the light-emitting layer12, which is used to facilitate the description of various embodiments, but the OLED display panel100of the present application also includes a plurality of light-emitting devices arranged in an array (not shown), wherein the light-emitting device is composed of an anode, the light-emitting layer12, and a cathode, and the related technologies are all existing technologies, and will not be repeated herein for brevity.

In this embodiment, the display area101includes an effective display area1011and an ineffective display area1012. The ineffective display area1012is defined between the effective display area1011and the non-display area102. The effective display area1011is provided with light-emitting pixels (not shown), and the ineffective display area1012is provided with virtual pixels (not shown). Both the first electrode13and the first organic layer21extend from the effective display area1011to the non-display area102. An orthographic projection of the first organic layer21on a plane where the driving substrate11is located is within an orthographic projection of the first electrode13on the plane where the driving substrate11is located. That is, a boundary of the first organic layer21is arranged above the first electrode13.

Since the ineffective display area1012is defined between the non-display area102and the effective display area1011, in this embodiment, by arranging the boundary of the first organic layer21above the first electrode13, even if external water vapor intrudes into the first organic layer21, the external water vapor will first intrude into the ineffective display area1012without impacting the display of the effective display area1011, so that the encapsulation effect of the effective display area1011can be ensured. In addition, since the first organic layer21does not occupy an additional space of the non-display area102, the above arrangement can save the space of the non-display area102, thereby narrowing a bezel, which is beneficial to realize a narrow bezel design of the OLED display panel100.

Furthermore, the encapsulation structure20further includes a second inorganic layer24and a third inorganic layer25. The second inorganic layer24is located on the side of the first organic layer21close to the display main body10. The third inorganic layer25is located on the side of the second organic layer23away from the first inorganic layer22. A material of each of the first inorganic layer22, the second inorganic layer24, and the third inorganic layer25may all include one or more of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or silicon oxynitride.

In the prior art, the encapsulation of the OLED display panel is generally a three-layered encapsulation structure of an inorganic film, an organic film, and an inorganic film, and the organic film is sandwiched between two inorganic films. However, as a size of the panel increases, a possibility of foreign matter falling during a panel manufacturing process also increases. The original three-layered encapsulation structure cannot guarantee the overall encapsulation effect of the display panel, thereby reducing the manufacturing yield of the product. Therefore, in this embodiment, by providing a five-layered encapsulation structure20including a second inorganic layer24, a first organic layer21, a first inorganic layer22, a second organic layer23, and a third inorganic layer25, an overall encapsulation effect of the OLED display panel100can be improved, thereby reducing a yield loss caused by foreign matter falling during the panel manufacturing process.

In addition, to improve the two-layered encapsulation structure containing an organic film and an inorganic film designed in the prior art, in some embodiments of the present invention, the encapsulation structure20may be provided only with the first inorganic layer22and the third inorganic layer25and omit the second inorganic layer24, that is, the first organic layer21is in direct contact with the optical cover layer14, and will not be repeated herein for brevity.

In this embodiment, the OLED display panel100further includes a dam30. The dam30surrounds a periphery of the first organic layer21. The dam30is located on the side of the first electrode13away from the driving substrate11. Such an arrangement can prevent the first organic layer21from overflowing during film formation by arranging the dam30at the periphery of the first organic layer21, which is beneficial to improve a film topography of the first organic layer21.

Specifically, a number of the dams30may also be one. In this case, the dams30may have a ring structure, and the first organic layer21is located in an accommodation space formed by the ring structure; or, a number of the dams30may be multiple. A plurality of dams30are arranged in sequence at the periphery of the first organic layer21. A material of the dam30may include organic materials such as epoxy resin or acrylic resin.

The second organic layer23covers a side surface of the first electrode13. Since the first electrode13is usually made of a metal material, the above arrangement can reduce a probability of the first electrode13being intruded by external water vapor by arranging the second organic layer23at an outside of the first electrode13, thereby reducing a probability of corrosion of the first electrode13due to oxidation, so that a failure probability of the device is reduced, thereby increasing a service life of the OLED display panel100.

In this embodiment, the OLED display panel100further includes a retaining wall40. The retaining wall40is provided on the driving substrate11. The retaining wall40is located at a side of the second organic layer23away from the display area101. The retaining wall40is configured to prevent the organic material used in preparation of the second organic layer23from overflowing. In addition, each of the first inorganic layer22, the second inorganic layer24, and the third inorganic layer25covers the retaining wall40to improve the water and oxygen barrier performance at the edge of the panel.

Specifically, the retaining wall40includes a first layer41and a second layer42. The first layer41is located between the second layer42and the driving substrate11. The first layer41and the planarization layer (not shown) in the driving substrate11can be prepared by a same process, and the second layer42and the pixel defining layer in the driving substrate11(not shown) can be prepared by a same process, and the related technologies are existing technologies, and will not be repeated herein for brevity. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the retaining wall40may also include only one of the first layer41and the second layer42. The present application does not specifically limit the structure of the retaining wall40.

Therefore, in this embodiment, if one or more of the first inorganic layer22, the second inorganic layer24, and the third inorganic layer25has a decreased water resistance or cracks, since a side of the effective display area1011close the display area102is provided with the first organic layer21and the second organic layer23covering a side surface of the first organic layer21, when external water vapor intrudes from the non-display area102, the external water vapor will first enter the second organic layer23and then enter the first organic layer21. Compared with a single-layered organic layer encapsulation method, this embodiment prolongs an intrusion path of water vapor at the edge of the panel, delays an intrusion time of water vapor, thereby improving the encapsulation effect at the edge of the OLED display panel100, which is beneficial to increase a service life of the OLED display panel100, thus improving a manufacturing yield of products.

Referring toFIG.2, Embodiment 2 of the present application provides an OLED display panel200. The difference between the OLED display panel200provided in Embodiment 2 of the present application and Embodiment 1 is that the second inorganic layer24is located on the side of the dam30close to the display area101. The first organic layer21covers the side surface of the second inorganic layer24.

The inventors of the present application have discovered through experimental investigations that when metal oxide thin film transistors such as IGZO thin film transistors are used in large-sized display panels, due to consideration of electrical performance of the panel, silicon oxide or silicon nitride with a lower hydrogen content is usually used as a material to prepare the inorganic layer, and the closer the inorganic layer is to the thin film transistor, the lower the hydrogen content, so as to reduce a probability of hydrogen diffusion into the thin film transistor device, thereby reducing an impact of hydrogen on electrical performance of the thin film transistor. However, when the amount of hydrogen in the inorganic layer is small, the water vapor barrier effect of the inorganic layer is reduced, and the risk of failure of the inorganic layer at the edge of the panel under the intrusion of water vapor is increased.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the first organic layer21covers the side surface of the second inorganic layer24, that is, by retracting the second inorganic layer24, the water vapor is possibly prevented from intruding along the side surface of the second inorganic layer24, and the risk of failure of the second inorganic layer24due to the intrusion of water vapor is reduced, so that the encapsulation effect at the edge of the panel can be further improved. In addition, because the above arrangement reduces the occupied space of the second inorganic layer24in the non-display area102, a total thickness of the inorganic film in the non-display area102is reduced, which is beneficial to reduce a stress in the non-display area102, thereby reducing a risk of peeling between layers at the edge of the panel, thus improving a bending performance of the OLED display panel200in the non-display area102.

Further, after retraction of the second inorganic layer24, a part of the first organic layer21located beyond the second inorganic layer24is in direct contact with the optical cover layer14. Since the optical cover layer14is an organic layer, the first organic layer21and the optical cover layer14have a good bonding strength. Therefore, this embodiment can improve the bonding strength between the first organic layer21and the display main body10, that is, the bonding strength between the encapsulation structure20and the display main body10is increased, which is beneficial to improve reliability of the panel.

Referring toFIG.3, Embodiment 3 of the present application provides an OLED display panel300. A difference between the OLED display panel300provided by Embodiment 3 of the present application and Embodiment 2 is that the first inorganic layer22is located at a side of the retaining wall40close to the display area101. The boundary of the first inorganic layer22is located between the first electrode13and the retaining wall40. The second organic layer23covers the side surface of the first inorganic layer22.

In this embodiment, the second organic layer23covers the side surface of the first inorganic layer22, that is, by retracting of the first inorganic layer22, the water vapor is possibly prevented from intruding along the side surface of the first inorganic layer22, and the risk of failure of the first inorganic layer22due to the intrusion of water vapor is reduced, so that the encapsulation effect at the edge of the panel can be further improved. In addition, because the above arrangement reduces the occupied space of the first inorganic layer22in the non-display area102, a total thickness of the inorganic film in the non-display area102is reduced, which is beneficial to reduce a stress in the non-display area102, thereby reducing a risk of peeling between layers at the edge of the panel, thus improving a bending performance of the OLED display panel200in the non-display area102.

Referring toFIG.4, Embodiment 4 of the present application provides an OLED display panel400. A difference between the OLED display panel400provided by Embodiment 4 of the present application and Embodiment 1 is that the first organic layer21covers the side surface of the first electrode13. A dam30is not provided in the OLED display panel400.

In this embodiment, the first organic layer21covers the side surface of the first electrode13, so that the first organic layer21and the second organic layer23are located at the outside of the first electrode13at the same time, thereby prolonging the intrusion path of the water vapor outside the first electrode13, and delaying the time for water vapor to enter the first electrode13, so that the probability of the first electrode13being intruded by external water vapor is further reduced, thus further reducing a failure probability of the device. In addition, since the arrangement of the dam30is omitted in this embodiment, the overflow of organic materials during film formation of the first organic layer21and the second organic layer23can be prevented at the same time through the barrier effect of the retaining wall40, thereby saving the manufacturing cost of the OLED display panel400.

Referring toFIG.5, Embodiment 5 of the present application provides an OLED display panel500. The difference between the OLED display panel500provided by Embodiment 5 of the present application and Embodiment 1 is that the first organic layer21covers the side surface of the first electrode13. The dam30is located between the retaining wall40and the second organic layer23. The height of the dam30is smaller than the height of the retaining wall40.

In this embodiment, the first organic layer21covers the side surface of the first electrode13, so that the first organic layer21and the second organic layer23are located at the outside of the first electrode13at the same time, thereby prolonging the intrusion path of the water vapor outside the first electrode13, and delaying the time for water vapor to enter the first electrode13, so that the probability of the first electrode13being intruded by external water vapor is further reduced, thus further reducing a failure probability of the device. In addition, the double barrier effect of the dam30and the retaining wall40can greatly increase a probability of overflow of the organic material, which is beneficial to improve the film topography of the first organic layer21and the second organic layer23.

Referring toFIG.6, Embodiment 6 of the present application provides an OLED display panel600. A difference between the OLED display panel600provided by Embodiment 6 of the present application and Embodiment 5 is that the second organic layer23covers the dam30and extends to an area between the dam30and the retaining wall40.

In this embodiment, the second organic layer23is extended to the area between the dam30and the retaining wall40, that is, the boundary of the second organic layer23is arranged between the dam30and the retaining wall40, thereby increasing an occupied area of the second organic layer23in the non-display area102, and increasing the distance from the boundary of the second organic layer23to the display area101, thereby prolonging the intrusion path of external water vapor in the organic layer, thus further improving the encapsulation effect of the OLED display at the edge of the panel600.

The present application also provides an electronic device700, which can be any product or component with display function such as electronic paper, mobile phone, tablet computer, television, monitor, notebook computer, digital photo frame, navigator, etc. The electronic device700includes a housing720and an OLED display panel710arranged in the housing720. The OLED display panel710may be the OLED display panel described in any of the foregoing embodiments, as shown inFIG.7. Specific structure of the OLED display panel710can be referred to the description of the foregoing embodiments, and will not be repeated herein for brevity.

The OLED display panel and the electronic device provided by the embodiments of the present application are described in detail above. Specific examples are used to explain the principle and implementation of the present application. The descriptions of the above embodiments are only used to help understand the present application. Also, for those skilled in the art, according to the ideas of the present application, there will be changes in the specific implementation and application scope. In summary, the content of this specification should not be construed as limiting the present application.