CN106324925B

CN106324925B - Pixel structure and display panel using same

Info

Publication number: CN106324925B
Application number: CN201610930039.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 王腾逸; 曾文贤; 白佳蕙; 李一宏; 吴炘儒; 杨智钧; 胡又元; 陈韦潔; 李冠谊; 吴冠贤
Original assignee: AU Optronics Corp
Current assignee: AU Optronics Corp
Priority date: 2016-08-17
Filing date: 2016-10-31
Publication date: 2021-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 2036-10-31
Also published as: CN106324925A; TWI592718B; TW201809819A

Abstract

A pixel structure and a display panel using the same are provided, the pixel structure comprises a substrate, sub-pixels, a color resistance layer, a pixel electrode and a spacer. The substrate defines at least one sub-pixel. The sub-pixel comprises at least one switch element which is electrically connected with at least one scanning line and at least one data line. The color resistance layer is arranged on the substrate. The pixel electrode comprises a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode which are arranged on the color resistance layer and positioned on the sub-pixels, wherein the pixel electrode is electrically connected with the switch element. The spacer is located in the pixel region and arranged between the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode. The spacer is arranged on the color resistance layer, and projections of the spacer, the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode on the color resistance layer are mutually separated. The invention also discloses a display panel with the pixel structure.

Description

Pixel structure and display panel using same

Technical Field

The invention relates to a pixel structure and a display panel using the same.

Background

Among various electronic products for home appliances, a liquid crystal display using a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) has been widely used. The thin film transistor type liquid crystal display is mainly composed of a thin film transistor array substrate, a color filter array substrate and a liquid crystal layer, wherein the thin film transistor array substrate is provided with a plurality of thin film transistors arranged in an array and pixel electrodes (pixel electrodes) which are correspondingly configured with the thin film transistors. In addition, a spacer is disposed between the thin film transistor array substrate and the color filter array, so that the two substrates have a certain gap (cell gap).

However, in the pixel structure, the spacer and the pixel electrode may interact with each other, which may cause unexpected phenomena. For example, the spacers may affect the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer, so that the pixel structure cannot normally display signals. Further, when the spacers affect the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer, the picture quality of the liquid crystal display may be affected and the picture of the liquid crystal display may have uneven brightness.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides a pixel structure and a display panel using the same, so as to reduce dark fringes generated by liquid crystal misalignment (misalignment).

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a pixel structure, which includes a substrate, a sub-pixel, a color resist layer, a pixel electrode, and a spacer. The substrate is defined with at least two sub-pixels. Each sub-pixel comprises at least one scanning line, at least one data line crossed with the scanning line and at least one switch element, wherein the switch element is electrically connected with the scanning line and the data line. The color resistance layer is arranged on the substrate and is provided with a top surface, wherein the top surface of the color resistance layer is far away from the substrate. The pixel electrode comprises a first sub-pixel electrode and a second sub-pixel electrode which are arranged on the top surface of the color resistance layer and are positioned on each pixel, wherein the pixel electrode is electrically connected with the switch element. The spacer is positioned in one of the sub-pixels and is arranged between the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode. The spacer has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to each other, wherein the bottom surface of the spacer is disposed on the top surface of the color resist layer. The projections of the spacer, the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode on the top surface of the color resistance layer are mutually separated.

In some embodiments, the spacer includes a sidewall, and the sidewall and the top surface of the bottom surface of the spacer form an acute angle, and the acute angle is between 50 degrees and 70 degrees.

In some embodiments, the first subpixel electrode has a first notch, the first notch has a first oblique edge and a second oblique edge, and the second subpixel electrode has a second notch. The second gap has a third bevel edge and a fourth bevel edge, and a part of the gap object located in one of the sub-pixels is respectively located in the first gap of the first sub-pixel electrode and the second gap of the second sub-pixel electrode.

In some embodiments, the first subpixel electrode has a first slit and a second slit, the second subpixel electrode has a third slit and a fourth slit, the first slit extends in the third direction, the second slit extends in the fourth direction, the third slit extends in the second direction, and the fourth slit extends in the first direction. The first bevel edge is substantially parallel to the first slit, the second bevel edge is substantially parallel to the second slit, the third bevel edge is substantially parallel to the third slit, and the fourth bevel edge is substantially parallel to the fourth slit.

In some embodiments, the first subpixel electrode further includes a fifth slit and a sixth slit, wherein the fifth slit extends in the second direction, and the sixth slit extends in the first direction. The second sub-pixel electrode further includes a seventh slit and an eighth slit, wherein the seventh slit extends in the third direction, and the eighth slit extends in the fourth direction. The first slit and the second slit of the first sub-pixel electrode are projected on the color resistance layer and positioned between the spacer and the fifth slit and the sixth slit of the first sub-pixel electrode are projected on the color resistance layer, and the third slit and the fourth slit of the second sub-pixel electrode are projected on the color resistance layer and positioned between the spacer and the seventh slit and the eighth slit of the second sub-pixel electrode are projected on the color resistance layer.

In some embodiments, the pixel structure further includes at least one bump. The bump is arranged below the gap object of at least one of the sub-pixels, and the vertical projection of the bump on the substrate is at least partially overlapped with the vertical projection of the gap object on the substrate.

In some embodiments, the pixel structure further includes a first auxiliary spacer. The first auxiliary gap object is arranged on the top surface of the color resistance layer of at least one of the sub-pixels and covers the data line, wherein the projection of the pixel electrode and the first auxiliary gap object on the top surface of the color resistance layer are separated.

In some embodiments, the pixel structure further includes a second auxiliary spacer. The second auxiliary spacer is arranged on the top surface of the color resistance layer of the other sub-pixel, wherein the thickness of the second auxiliary spacer is smaller than that of the spacer, and the projections of the second auxiliary spacer, the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode on the top surface of the color resistance layer of the other sub-pixel are mutually separated.

In some embodiments, the first auxiliary spacer and the second auxiliary spacer comprise opaque materials.

In some embodiments, the pixel electrode further includes at least one connection electrode, and the first sub-pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode are connected to each other through the connection electrode.

In some embodiments, the switching element includes a first switching element and a second switching element, the first sub-pixel electrode is connected to the first switching element, and the second sub-pixel electrode is connected to the second switching element.

In some embodiments, the spacers comprise opaque material.

In order to better achieve the above object, the present invention further provides a display panel including a pixel structure, an opposite substrate liquid crystal layer. The opposite substrate is arranged opposite to the substrate. The liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between the opposite substrate and the substrate.

The invention has the technical effects that:

in the pixel structure of the invention, the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode can correspond to the boundary of the gap object and/or the second auxiliary gap object, and the outline of the patterns is adjusted, so that the vertical projection of the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode on the color resistance layer and the vertical projection of the gap object and/or the second auxiliary gap object on the color resistance layer are separated from each other. On the other hand, the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode can also be separated from the first auxiliary spacer by a gap, so that the vertical projection of the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode on the color resistance layer and the vertical projection of the first auxiliary spacer on the color resistance layer are separated from each other. Under this configuration, the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode may not be covered by at least one of the spacers, the first auxiliary spacers, and the second auxiliary spacers, for example: the gap, the gap and the first auxiliary gap, the gap and the second auxiliary gap, or the gap, the first auxiliary gap and the second auxiliary gap cover, so that the control of the liquid crystal molecules by the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode can be free from the topographic influence of at least one of the gap, the first auxiliary gap and the second auxiliary gap, thereby preventing the liquid crystal molecules from generating unexpected reverse direction and further preventing the phenomenon of liquid crystal misorientation.

The invention is described in detail below with reference to the drawings and specific examples, but the invention is not limited thereto.

Drawings

FIG. 1A is a schematic top view of a pixel structure with liquid crystal molecules aligned in a first comparative example;

FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line BB' of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C depicts a second comparative embodiment;

FIG. 2A is a schematic top view illustrating a display panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line DD' of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is an enlarged schematic view of the region C of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2D is a schematic top view of another embodiment of a pixel structure of the display panel of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is a schematic top view illustrating a display panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view along line EE' of fig. 3A.

Wherein the reference numerals

100. 201A, 201A', 201B pixel structure

102 pixel electrode

104 spacer

106. 210 liquid crystal molecules

108 equipotential lines

111. 202 substrate

200A, 200B display panel

112. 203 opposite substrate

115. 225 common electrode

204 scan line

206 data line

208. 208' sub-pixel

209 liquid crystal layer

210 liquid crystal molecules

212a, 212b switching element

213 pixel electrode

214 first sub-pixel electrode

216 second sub-pixel electrode

218 color resist layer

219. 219' color resistance

220 spacer

222 side wall

224a first notch

224b second gap

226 first auxiliary spacer

228 first bump

230 second bump

232 second auxiliary spacer

234 joint part

BB ', DD ', EE ' line segment

A. Region A ', B, B', C

B1, B2, B3 and B4 bottom surfaces

O1 first slit

O2 second slit

O3 third slit

O4 fourth slit

O5 fifth slit

O6 sixth slit

O7 seventh slit

O8 eighth slit

CH semiconductor channel layer

D drain electrode

D1 first direction

D2 second direction

Third direction D3

D4 fourth direction

G-grid electrode

G1 first gap

G2 second gap

G3 third gap

L1 first oblique edge

L2 second oblique edge

L3 third bevel edge

L4 fourth bevel edge

S source electrode

S1, S2, S3, S4 Top surface

W1, W2, W3 Width

Acute angle of theta

Detailed Description

The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings, which are provided for illustration purposes and the like:

in the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous implementation details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that these implementation details are not to be interpreted as limiting the invention. That is, in some embodiments of the invention, such implementation details are not necessary. In addition, for the sake of simplicity, some structures and elements common to the prior art are shown in the drawings in a simple schematic manner.

In the pixel structure, the spacer and the pixel electrode may interact with each other, which may cause unexpected phenomena. For example, please refer to fig. 1A and 1B, wherein fig. 1A is a schematic top view illustrating a pixel structure 100 in which the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules 106 is affected, and fig. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view along a line BB' of fig. 1A. In the pixel structure 100, the inversion of the liquid crystal molecules 106 can be controlled by the equipotential lines 108 provided by the pixel electrode 102, however, when the spacers 104 cover the pixel electrode 102, the spacers 104 will affect the inversion of the liquid crystal molecules 106 around the spacers.

In fig. 1B, there are a counter substrate 112 and a substrate 111, wherein the common electrode 115 covers the counter substrate 112, and the pixel electrode 102 partially covers the substrate 111. Since the spacers 104 cover the pixel electrodes 102, the liquid crystal molecules 106 at and around the boundaries of the spacers 104 are influenced by their topography and cannot be inverted as designed. For example, in the region a, the liquid crystal molecules 106 are mostly affected by the equipotential lines 108, so the liquid crystal molecules 106 in the region a may exhibit the inversion as intended. However, in the region B, the liquid crystal molecules 106 are mostly affected by the topography, so the liquid crystal molecules 106 in the region B cannot exhibit the inversion designed as expected. In other words, due to the influence of the topography of the spacers 104, the pixel structure 100 may not output a normal image or may have uneven brightness due to the phenomenon of liquid crystal misalignment (misalignment) caused by the liquid crystal molecules 106 not being controlled as expected.

Fig. 1C shows a second comparative example, which is different from the first comparative example in that the spacers 104 are disposed on the opposite substrate 112, and the liquid crystal molecules 106 at the boundaries of the spacers 104 and around the spacers cannot be inverted as designed. In other words, the liquid crystal molecules 106 in the region a' may exhibit an inversion designed as intended. However, in the region B ', the liquid crystal molecules 106 are mostly affected by the topography, so the liquid crystal molecules 106 in the region B' cannot exhibit the inversion designed as expected. Due to the topography of the spacers 104, the pixel structure 100 may fail to control the liquid crystal molecules 106 as expected, resulting in misalignment of the liquid crystal, which may result in a failure to output a normal image or uneven brightness.

Referring to fig. 2A and fig. 2B, fig. 2A is a schematic top view of a display panel 200A according to a first embodiment of the invention, wherein the opposite substrate 203 and the liquid crystal layer 209 are not shown in fig. 2A, and fig. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along a line DD' of fig. 2A. The display panel 200A includes a plurality of pixel structures 201A, an opposite substrate 203, and a liquid crystal layer 209. Wherein the counter substrate 203 has a common electrode 225. The substrate 202 of at least one of the pixel structures 201A defines a plurality of sub-pixels. The present embodiment is exemplified by at least two sub-pixels 208 and 208'. Each of the sub-pixels includes at least one scan line 204, at least one data line 206 crossing the scan line 204, and at least one switch device 212. The opposite substrate 203 is disposed opposite to the substrate 202, and the liquid crystal layer 209 is interposed between the substrate 202 and the opposite substrate 203. Each sub-pixel 208, 208' (or pixel structure 201A) may provide a sub-pixel of a single color. For example, subpixel 208 may provide a blue subpixel, while subpixel 208' adjacent to subpixel 208 may provide a green subpixel or a red subpixel. It should be noted that the sub-pixel refers to an area where the pixel electrode exists and an area where a wiring necessary for controlling the pixel electrode exists.

The color-resist layer 218 is disposed on the substrate 202 and has a top surface S1 and a bottom surface B1 opposite to each other, wherein the top surface S1 of the color-resist layer 218 is away from the substrate 202, i.e., the thickness direction of the color-resist layer 218. In other words, the top surface S1 of the color resist layer 218 faces the opposite substrate 203. In addition, the color-resist layer 218 may include a plurality of color resists 219 and 219 ' of different colors, wherein the color resists 219 and 219 ' are located in the corresponding sub-pixels 208 and 208 ', respectively. That is, the color resists 219 and 219 'of different colors are located in the adjacent sub-pixel regions 208 and 208', respectively. For example, the color resistor 219 may be a blue color resistor, and the color resistor 219 ' may be a green color resistor, a red color resistor, or other color resistors, such that the sub-pixels 208 and 208 ' may provide a blue sub-pixel and a green sub-pixel or other color sub-pixels through the

color resistors

219 and 219 ', respectively, to emit different colors of light.

The switching element 212 may be a thin-film transistor (TFT). In the embodiment where the switching element 212 is a thin film transistor, the switching element 212 includes a gate electrode G, a semiconductor channel layer CH, a source electrode S and a drain electrode D, and the gate electrode G is connected to the scan line 204, and the source electrode S is connected to the data line 206 and the drain electrode D. In addition to the bottom gate transistor as an example, the transistor of the present embodiment may also use other transistors, such as: top gate type transistors, variations of bottom gate type transistors, variations of top gate type transistors, or other suitable transistors. The semiconductor channel layer CH may be a single-layer or multi-layer structure, and the material thereof includes amorphous silicon, monocrystalline silicon, microcrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, organic semiconductor material, oxide semiconductor material, nano carbon tube, or other suitable materials.

The pixel electrode 213 includes a first sub-pixel electrode 214 and a second sub-pixel electrode 216, wherein the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 are disposed on the top surface S1 of the color resist layer 218 and located in each of the pixel regions 208 and 208 ', i.e., the pixel region 208 has the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216, and the pixel region 208' also has the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216. The pixel electrode 213 is electrically connected to the switching element 212. For example, the switching element 212 may be electrically connected to the first pixel electrode 214 and the second pixel electrode 216 through the drain electrode D thereof to control the electric potentials of the first pixel electrode 214 and the second pixel electrode 216. In the present embodiment, the pixel electrode 213 may further have a connection electrode 234, wherein the connection electrode 234 is used to be connected between the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216, that is, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 are connected to each other through the connection electrode 234, so that the switching element 212 may enable the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 to have substantially the same electric potential or have a buffer value therebetween. Through the switching element 212, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 of the pixel electrode 213 may be driven to control the inversion of the liquid crystal molecules 210 thereon through electric lines of force (electric field).

A spacer (photo-spacer)220 is disposed in one of the two sub-pixels 208 and 208' and between the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216. In other words, the spacer 220 is only located in one of the sub-pixels 208 and 208 ', but not in the other of the sub-pixels 208 and 208', and in the sub-pixel 208, the spacer 220 is vertically projected on the color-resist layer 218 between the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 vertically projected on the color-resist layer 218. The spacer 220 has a top surface S2 and a bottom surface B2 opposite to each other. The spacers 220 are disposed on the substrate 202 and are aligned with the opposite substrate 203.

The embodiment is illustrated with the spacer 220 only located at the sub-pixel 208, but not limited thereto. In the sub-pixel 208, the bottom surface B2 of the spacer 220 is disposed on the top surface S1 of the color-resist layer 218 and contacts the top surface S1 of the color-resist layer 218. For example, the area of the bottom B2 of the spacer 220 is larger than the area of the top S2 of the spacer 220, wherein the width W1 of the bottom B1 of the spacer 220 is between about 10 microns and about 20 microns. As shown in fig. 2B, the cross-sectional shape of the spacer 220 is trapezoidal, and the area of the bottom surface B2 is larger than the area of the top surface S2. For example, the spacer 220 may include a sidewall 222, and the sidewall 222 and the bottom B2 of the spacer 220 form an acute angle θ, wherein the acute angle θ is different from 0 degree. The acute angle θ is preferably between about 50 degrees and about 70 degrees. The height of spacers 220 is preferably between about 3 and 3.5 microns. In addition, the spacers 220 can be used to support the opposite substrate 203, and besides providing a supporting effect, they are preferably made of opaque material, such as Black photoresist (Black Resist), other multi-layer photoresist stack with different colors, or other suitable organic light shielding material, so as to provide the supporting and light shielding effects at the same time.

In the arrangement relationship of the spacers 220, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216, the vertical projection boundaries of the spacers 220, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 on the top surface of the color resist layer 218 of one of the sub-pixels may be separated by a distance, that is, the vertical projections of the spacers 220, the first pixel electrode 214 and the second pixel electrode 216 on the top surface of the color resist layer 218 of the sub-pixel 208 may be separated by a distance. For example, please see fig. 2A, fig. 2B and fig. 2C simultaneously, wherein fig. 2C is an enlarged schematic view of the region C of fig. 2A. In the arrangement relationship of the spacer 220 and the pixel electrode 213, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 of the pixel electrode 213 can be adjusted to correspond to the boundary of the spacer 220, and the outline of the pattern can be adjusted, so that the boundaries of the spacer 220, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 can be separated by a distance. The projection pattern of the bottom surface B2 of the spacer 220 perpendicularly projected on the substrate 202 may be a circle or a polygon, but the invention is not limited thereto.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 2C, the boundary of the spacer 220 is a polygon, such as an octagon. The first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 of the pixel electrode 213 correspond to the octagonal boundary of the spacer 220, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 has a first gap 224a, and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 has a second gap 224 b. Specifically, the first notch 224a has a first oblique side L1 and a second oblique side L2, and the second notch 224b has a third oblique side L3 and a fourth oblique side L4. In addition, the spacer 220 located in one of the sub-pixels, for example: a portion of the spacer 220 located in the sub-pixel 208 is located in the first notch 224a of the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second notch 224b of the second sub-pixel electrode 216, respectively. That is, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 can pass through the first gap 224a and the second gap 224b, respectively, and are spaced apart from the boundary of the spacer 220 by a certain distance. Therefore, the projection of the spacer 220, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 on the top surface S1 of the color-resist layer 218 is separated. In other words, the spacers 220, the first subpixel electrode 214, and the second subpixel electrode 216 of the subpixel 208 do not overlap each other in vertical projection on the top surface of the color-resist layer 218. Since the spacers 220 avoid the overlapping of the pixel electrode 102 and the spacers 104 on the substrate 111 as shown in fig. 1B, the occurrence of liquid crystal misalignment (misalignment) above the pixel structure 201A can be reduced, and the problem of uneven display or brightness can be improved.

Further, at least one of the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 may be spaced apart from a perpendicular projection of the spacer 220 on the top surface S1 of the color-resist layer 218. For example, in fig. 2B, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 is separated from the perpendicular projection of the spacer 220 on the top surface S1 of the color-resist layer 218 by a first gap G1, wherein the first gap G1 is between 3 microns and 7 microns.

In other words, in the pixel structure 201A, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 located at two sides of the spacer 220 are not covered by the spacer 220. With this configuration, the liquid crystal molecules 210 controlled by the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 are not affected by the topography of the spacers 220. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules 210 above the pixel structure 201A can be prevented from generating unexpected reverse direction, so that the display panel 200A can stably provide an output picture and improve the problem of uneven brightness.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 2C, in order to provide at least one of the sub-pixels with multi-domain alignment directions, for example, the sub-pixel 208 has at least 4 alignment directions, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 has a first slit O1 and a second slit O2, and the second pixel electrode 216 has a third slit O3 and a fourth slit O4. The first slit O1 extends in the third direction D3, the second slit O2 extends in the fourth direction D4, the third slit O3 extends in the second direction D2, and the fourth slit O4 extends in the first direction D1. In addition, the first oblique side L1 is substantially parallel to the first slit O1, the second oblique side L2 is substantially parallel to the second slit O2, the third oblique side L3 is substantially parallel to the third slit O3, and the fourth oblique side L4 is substantially parallel to the fourth slit O4. In addition, the first slit O1, the second slit O2, the third slit O3 and the fourth slit O4 are preferably not perpendicular to the first notch 224a and the second notch 224b, respectively. When viewed from the center of the spacer 220, the first oblique side L1 is substantially parallel to the fourth oblique side L4, and the second oblique side L2 is substantially parallel to the third oblique side L3. In other words, if the spacer 220 is a center point, it can be seen that the extending direction of the first slit O1 of the first sub-pixel electrode 214 is symmetrical to the extending direction of the fourth slit O4 of the second sub-pixel electrode 214, and the extending direction of the second slit O2 of the first sub-pixel electrode 214 is symmetrical to the extending direction of the third slit O3 of the second sub-pixel electrode 214. In addition, the boundary of the spacer 220 is circular, the first notch 224a has a first oblique side L1 and a second oblique side L2, and the second notch 224b has a third oblique side L3 and a fourth oblique side L4. The first, second, third and fourth oblique sides L1, L2, L3 and L4 are preferably parallel to a tangent of the circular boundary of the spacer 220.

Please refer back to fig. 2A and fig. 2B. Corresponding to the adjacent sub-pixels 208 and 208 ', the data line 206 is located between the adjacent sub-pixels 208 and 208'. The pixel structure 201A may further include a first auxiliary spacer 226, wherein the first auxiliary spacer 226 is illustrated in a dot pattern. The first auxiliary spacers 226 are made of opaque material, such as Black photoresist (Black Resist), other multi-layer photoresist stack with different colors, or other suitable materials to provide the light shielding effect. And also serves as a boundary between the sub-pixels 208 and 208' of different colors, and prevents the opposite substrate 203 from contacting the auxiliary structure disposed on the substrate 202. The first auxiliary spacers 226 are disposed on the substrate 202, and cover (overlap) the data lines 206 and selectively cover (overlap) the scan lines 204, wherein the covered area can be referred to as a non-display area of the sub-pixel. The first auxiliary spacer 226 has a top surface S3 and a bottom surface B3 opposite to each other, wherein the bottom surface B3 of the first auxiliary spacer 226 is disposed on the top surface S1 of the color-resist layer 218 and contacts with the top surface S1 of the color-resist layer 218, and the first auxiliary spacer 226 covers the data line 206. The first auxiliary spacers 226 are disposed on the top surface S1 of the color resist layer 218 of at least one of the sub-pixels 208/208' and cover the data lines. The area of the bottom surface B3 of the first auxiliary spacer 226 is larger than the area of the top surface S3 of the first auxiliary spacer 226, wherein the width W2 of the bottom surface B3 of the first auxiliary spacer 226 is between 12 microns and 17 microns. In addition, the height (thickness) of the first auxiliary spacers 226 is lower than the height (thickness) of the spacers 220, wherein the difference between the height of the first auxiliary spacers 226 and the height of the spacers 220 is between about 1 micron and about 1.2 microns.

In the arrangement relationship of the first auxiliary spacers 226 and the sub-pixels 208 and 208 ', the adjacent sub-pixels 208 and 208' respectively have corresponding pixel electrodes 213 (e.g., at least one of the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216), wherein the vertical projections of the adjacent pixel electrodes 213 and the first auxiliary spacers 226 on the top surface S1 of the color-resist layer 218 are separated from each other. In other words, the boundary of the first auxiliary spacer 226 is spaced apart from the pixel electrodes 213 located at both sides thereof by a certain distance. Specifically, in the sub-pixel 208, at least one of the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 of the pixel electrode 213 may be spaced apart from a perpendicular projection of the first auxiliary spacer 226 on the top surface S1 of the color-resist layer 218. For example, in fig. 2B, the vertical projection of the first pixel electrode 214 and the first auxiliary spacer 226 on the top surface S1 of the color-resist layer 218 is separated by a second gap G2, wherein the second gap G2 is between about 1 micron and 5 microns.

In other words, in the pixel structure 201A, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 on both sides of the first auxiliary spacer 226 are not covered by the first auxiliary spacer 226. Under this configuration, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 on both sides of the first auxiliary spacer 226 are not covered by the first auxiliary spacer 226. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules (not shown) controlled by the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 are not affected by the topography of the first auxiliary gap 226, thereby preventing the liquid crystal molecules above the pixel structure 200A from being undesirably inverted.

On the other hand, referring to fig. 2B, the pixel structure 201A may further include at least one bump disposed under the spacers of at least one of the sub-pixels, which may be used to increase the height difference between the top surface S2 of the spacer 220 and the top surface S3 of the first auxiliary spacer 226 or be used as a storage capacitor. In this embodiment, the bump of the pixel structure 201A includes a single bump or a multi-bump. The invention is illustrated with multiple bumps, for example: the multi-bump has a first bump 228 and a second bump 230 disposed under the spacer 220, and a vertical projection of the first bump 228 and the second bump 230 on the substrate 202 at least partially overlaps a vertical projection of the spacer 220 on the substrate 202. Further, the vertical projection of the first bump 228 and the second bump 230 on the substrate 202 falls within the vertical projection of the spacer 220 on the substrate 202.

When the storage capacitor is used, the single bump or the first bump 228 and the second bump 230 may be made of a non-transparent conductive material (e.g., aluminum, copper, silver, chromium, titanium, molybdenum, or other suitable materials, or alloys thereof), a transparent conductive material, but not limited thereto, and other materials with conductive properties may be used, and may be single-layered or multi-layered. The single bump may have a common signal (COM), floating signal (floating) or other suitable signal. While the first bump 228 may have a common signal (COM) or other suitable signal and the second bump 230 may have a floating signal or other suitable signal. In other embodiments, the first bump 228 or the second bump 230 may be selectively disposed under the spacer 220 as a single bump according to the requirement of the designer. In other embodiments, the bump for increasing the height difference may be made of an inorganic material (e.g., silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, other suitable materials, or a combination thereof), an organic material (e.g., photoresist, Polyimide (PI), benzocyclobutene (BCB), Epoxy (Epoxy), Perfluorocyclobutane (PFCB), other suitable materials, or a combination thereof), or another suitable material, or a combination thereof.

In summary, in the pixel structure of the invention, since the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 may not be covered by the spacer 220 or the spacer 220 and the first auxiliary spacer 226, the liquid crystal molecules 210 around the spacer 220 or the spacer 220 and the first auxiliary spacer 226 are not affected by the topography thereof. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules 210 controlled by the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode can be prevented from generating unexpected reverse direction, and the phenomenon of liquid crystal misdirection is further prevented, so that the display panel can stably provide an output picture through the pixel structure, and the problem of uneven brightness is solved.

On the other hand, although the pixel structure 201A shown in fig. 2A adopts a configuration of four domains (4domains) or 4 alignment directions, which is only an example, in other embodiments, the pixel structure may also adopt a configuration of eight domains (8domains), for example, please refer to fig. 2D, in which fig. 2D illustrates a top view of the pixel structure 201A of the display panel 200A of fig. 2A in another embodiment. The pixel structure 201A 'illustrated in fig. 2D is substantially the same as the pixel structure 201A illustrated in fig. 2A, and at least a difference therebetween is that the pixel structure 201A' illustrated in fig. 2D is configured in eight domains (or referred to as 8 alignment directions). For example, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 further includes a fifth slit O5 and a sixth slit O6, and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 further includes a seventh slit O7 and an eighth slit O8. The fifth slit O5 extends toward the second direction D2, the sixth slit O6 extends toward the first direction D1, the seventh slit O7 extends toward the third direction D3, and the eighth slit O8 extends toward the fourth direction D4, wherein the first slit O1 and the second slit O2 of the first sub-pixel electrode 214 are vertically projected on the color-resist layer 218 between the spacer 220 and the fifth slit O5 and the sixth slit O6 of the first sub-pixel electrode 214 are vertically projected on the color-resist layer 218, and the third slit O3 and the fourth slit O4 of the second sub-pixel electrode 216 are vertically projected on the color-resist layer 218 between the spacer 220 and the seventh slit O7 and the eighth slit O8 of the second sub-pixel electrode 216 are vertically projected on the color-resist layer 218. In other words, the fifth slit O5 and the sixth slit O6 of the first sub-pixel electrode 214 are far away from the spacer 220, and the seventh slit O7 and the eighth slit O8 of the second sub-pixel electrode 216 are also far away from the spacer 220. The number of the switching elements of the pixel structure 201A illustrated in fig. 2D is two, wherein the first switching element 212a and the second switching element 212b both include a gate electrode G, a semiconductor channel layer CH, a source electrode S, and a drain electrode D, the gate electrode G is connected to the scan line 204, and the drain electrode D and the source electrode S are electrically connected to the data line 206. In some embodiments, the source electrodes S of the first and

second switching elements

212a and 212b may be directly connected to form a common source electrode, which may be electrically connected to the data line, and/or the gate electrodes G of the first and

second switching elements

212a and 212b may be directly connected to form a common gate electrode, which may be electrically connected to the scan line 204. The pixel electrode 213 does not have the connection electrode 234, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode are separated from each other, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 is connected to the first switching element 212a (i.e., the drain electrode D), the second sub-pixel electrode 216 is connected to the second switching element 212b (i.e., the drain electrode D), and the first pixel electrode 214 and the second pixel electrode 216 can have different operation voltages.

Furthermore, no matter the pixel structure is configured in a multi-domain manner using four domains or eight domains, the vertical projection of the spacer 220 or the spacer 220 and the first auxiliary spacer 226 on the color-resist layer 218 and the vertical projection of the pixel electrode 213 on the color-resist layer 218 can be separated from each other, so that the liquid crystal molecules around the spacer 220 or the spacer 220 and the first auxiliary spacer 226 are not affected by the terrain, thereby preventing the phenomenon of liquid crystal misorientation.

Referring to fig. 3A and fig. 3B, fig. 3A is a schematic top view of a display panel 200B according to a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the opposite substrate 203 and the liquid crystal layer 209 are not shown in fig. 3A, and fig. 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line EE' of fig. 3A. At least one difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that the pixel structure 201B of the display panel 200B of the present embodiment further includes a second auxiliary spacer 232, wherein the spacer 220 and the second auxiliary spacer 232 are respectively located in the adjacent sub-pixels 208 and 208'. In other words, the spacer 220 is disposed on one of the sub-pixels 208 and 208 ', and the second auxiliary spacer 232 is disposed on the other of the sub-pixels 208 and 208'.

In the sub-pixel 208', the second auxiliary spacer 232 is disposed between the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 of the pixel electrode 213, and has a top surface S4 and a bottom surface B4 opposite to each other, wherein the bottom surface B4 of the second auxiliary spacer 232 is disposed on the top surface S1 of the color-resist layer 218 and contacts with the top surface S1 of the color-resist layer 218, and the width W3 of the bottom surface B4 of the second auxiliary spacer 232 is between 10 micrometers and 20 micrometers. In addition, the area of the bottom surface B4 of the second auxiliary spacer 232 is larger than the area of the top surface S4 of the second auxiliary spacer 232, in other words, the second auxiliary spacer 232 is a three-dimensional trapezoid.

In addition, as mentioned above, the spacers 220 and the second auxiliary spacers 232 are respectively disposed in the sub-pixels 208 and 208 ', wherein the sub-pixel 208 where the spacer 220 is located preferably provides a blue sub-pixel, and the sub-pixel 208' where the second auxiliary spacer 232 is located preferably provides a green sub-pixel, a red sub-pixel or other color sub-pixels. In other words, the spacers 220 and the second auxiliary spacers 232 are color resists 219 and 219 'covering different colors in the color resist layer 218, respectively, wherein the color resist 219 covered by the spacers 220 is a blue color resist to display blue, and the color resist 219' covered by the second auxiliary spacers 232 is a green color resist to display green or other colors.

On the other hand, the height of the second auxiliary spacers 232 is lower than the height of the spacers 220, but higher than the height of at least one of the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216, wherein the difference between the height of the spacers 220 and the height of the second auxiliary spacers 232 is between 0.3 micrometers and 0.5 micrometers.

In this configuration, the second auxiliary spacers 232 may be used for the second auxiliary spacers 232 to support the opposite substrate 203. For example, when the spacers 220 deform to make the opposite substrate 203 close to the substrate 202, the second auxiliary spacers 232 can assist in supporting the opposite substrate 203. In addition, the second auxiliary spacers 232 may be made of a light-impermeable material to provide both supporting and light-shielding effects, in addition to providing the supporting effect. In addition, the height of the second auxiliary spacers 232 may be higher than that of the first auxiliary spacers 226, i.e., the height of the second auxiliary spacers 232 is between the height of the spacers 220 and the height of the first auxiliary spacers 226.

In the arrangement relationship of the second auxiliary spacer 232, the first pixel electrode 214 and the second pixel electrode 216, the boundaries of the second auxiliary spacer 232, the first pixel electrode 214 and the second pixel electrode 216 may be separated by a distance. As with the aforementioned arrangement relationship of the spacers 220 and the pixel electrodes 213, in the sub-pixel 208', the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 of the pixel electrode 213 can pass through the first gap 224a and the second gap 224b, respectively, and are spaced apart from the boundary of the second auxiliary spacer 232 by a certain distance. Therefore, the second auxiliary spacer 232, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 are separated from each other by the vertical projection on the top surface S1 of the color-resist layer 218. Further, at least one of the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 may be spaced apart from a perpendicular projection of the second auxiliary spacer 232 on the top surface S1 of the color-resist layer 218. For example, in fig. 3B, the sub-projections of the first pixel electrode 214 and the second auxiliary spacer 232 on the top surface S1 of the color-resist layer 218 are separated by a third gap G3, wherein the third gap G3 is between about 1 micron and 5 microns.

In other words, in the pixel structure 201B, the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 on both sides of the second auxiliary gap 232 are not covered by the second auxiliary gap 232. With this configuration, the liquid crystal molecules 210 controlled by the first sub-pixel electrode 214 and the second sub-pixel electrode 216 are not affected by the topography of the second auxiliary spacers 232. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules above the pixel structure 201B can be prevented from generating unexpected inversion, and the phenomenon of liquid crystal misorientation is prevented, so that the display panel 200B can stably provide an output picture through the pixel structure 201B, and the problem of uneven brightness is solved. In addition to the descriptions with reference to fig. 2A to 2C, the other descriptions of this embodiment can also be described with reference to fig. 2D, which is not described herein again.

In summary, in the pixel structure of the invention, the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode can correspond to the boundary of the spacer and/or the second auxiliary spacer, and the outline of the pattern is adjusted, so that the vertical projection of the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode on the color resist layer and the vertical projection of the spacer and/or the second auxiliary spacer on the color resist layer are separated from each other. On the other hand, the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode can also be separated from the first auxiliary spacer by a gap, so that the vertical projection of the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode on the color resistance layer and the vertical projection of the first auxiliary spacer on the color resistance layer are separated from each other. Under this configuration, the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode may not be covered by at least one of the spacers, the first auxiliary spacers, and the second auxiliary spacers, for example: the gap, the gap and the first auxiliary gap, the gap and the second auxiliary gap, or the gap, the first auxiliary gap and the second auxiliary gap cover, so that the control of the liquid crystal molecules by the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode can be free from the topographic influence of at least one of the gap, the first auxiliary gap and the second auxiliary gap, thereby preventing the liquid crystal molecules from generating unexpected reverse direction and further preventing the phenomenon of liquid crystal misorientation.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it should be understood that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pixel structure, comprising:

a substrate, defining at least two sub-pixels, each sub-pixel including at least one scan line, at least one data line crossing the scan line, and at least one switch element electrically connected to the scan line and the data line;

a color resistance layer arranged on the substrate and having a top surface, wherein the top surface of the color resistance layer is far away from the substrate;

a pixel electrode including a first sub-pixel electrode and a second sub-pixel electrode disposed on the top surface of the color resistance layer and located at each of the sub-pixels, wherein the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the switch element;

a spacer disposed in at least one of the sub-pixels and disposed between the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode, the spacer having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to each other, wherein the bottom surface of the spacer is disposed on the top surface of the color resist layer, and projections of the spacer, the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode on the top surface of the color resist layer are separated from each other;

at least one first auxiliary spacer disposed on the top surface of the color resist layer of at least one of the sub-pixels and covering the data line, wherein the pixel electrode and the first auxiliary spacer are separated from each other by a projection on the top surface of the color resist layer; and

a second auxiliary spacer disposed on the top surface of the color resist layer of another one of the sub-pixels, wherein the thickness of the second auxiliary spacer is smaller than that of the spacer, and the projections of the second auxiliary spacer, the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode on the top surface of the color resist layer are separated from each other;

the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode are not covered by at least one of the gap object, the first auxiliary gap object and the second auxiliary gap object, and the control of the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode on liquid crystal molecules is not influenced by the topography of at least one of the gap object, the first auxiliary gap object and the second auxiliary gap object so as to prevent liquid crystal misorientation.

2. The pixel structure of claim 1 wherein the spacer comprises a sidewall that forms an acute angle with a bottom surface of the spacer, the acute angle being between 50 degrees and 70 degrees.

3. The pixel structure of claim 1, wherein the first sub-pixel electrode has a first notch and the second sub-pixel electrode has a second notch, wherein the first notch has a first oblique edge and a second oblique edge, the second notch has a third oblique edge and a fourth oblique edge, and a portion of the spacers located in one of the sub-pixels are located in the first notch of the first sub-pixel electrode and the second notch of the second sub-pixel electrode, respectively.

4. The pixel structure of claim 3, wherein the first sub-pixel electrode has a first slit and a second slit, the second sub-pixel electrode has a third slit and a fourth slit, the first slit extends in a third direction, the second slit extends in a fourth direction, the third slit extends in a second direction, and the fourth slit extends in a first direction, wherein the first oblique side is parallel to the first slit, the second oblique side is parallel to the second slit, the third oblique side is parallel to the third slit, and the fourth oblique side is parallel to the fourth slit.

5. The pixel structure of claim 4, wherein the first sub-pixel electrode further comprises a fifth slit and a sixth slit, the fifth slit extends towards the second direction, the sixth slit extends towards the first direction, the second sub-pixel electrode further comprises a seventh slit and an eighth slit, the seventh slit extends towards the third direction, the eighth slit extends towards the fourth direction, wherein the first slit and the second slit of the first sub-pixel electrode are projected on the color resistance layer and located between the spacer and the fifth slit and the sixth slit of the first sub-pixel electrode are projected on the color resistance layer, and the third slit and the fourth slit of the second sub-pixel electrode are projected on the color resistance layer and positioned between the spacer and the seventh slit and the eighth slit of the second sub-pixel electrode are projected on the color resistance layer.

6. The pixel structure of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one bump, which is arranged below the spacer of at least one of the sub-pixels, and the vertical projection of the bump on the substrate is at least partially overlapped with the vertical projection of the spacer on the substrate.

7. The pixel structure of claim 1, wherein the first auxiliary spacer and the second auxiliary spacer comprise opaque materials.

8. The pixel structure according to claim 1, wherein the pixel electrode further comprises at least one connection electrode, and the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode are connected to each other via the connection electrode.

9. The pixel structure of claim 1, wherein the switching element comprises a first switching element and a second switching element, the first sub-pixel electrode is connected to the first switching element, and the second sub-pixel electrode is connected to the second switching element.

10. The pixel structure of claim 1 wherein the spacer comprises an opaque material.

11. A display panel, comprising:

at least one pixel structure according to any one of claims 1 to 10;

an opposite substrate arranged opposite to the substrate; and

a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the opposite substrate and the substrate.