CN111310741B

CN111310741B - Display panel and display device

Info

Publication number: CN111310741B
Application number: CN202010295958.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 范柳彬; 李文星; 付佳; 李金库; 姜正文; 刘玉轩
Original assignee: Kunshan Govisionox Optoelectronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Kunshan Govisionox Optoelectronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-04-15
Filing date: 2020-04-15
Publication date: 2022-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-15
Also published as: CN111310741A

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a display panel including a pixel defining layer, a light emitting device, and an image receiving device. The pixel defining layer is configured to define a plurality of first openings, the light emitting device is positioned in the first openings, the orthographic projection of the image receiving device on the surface of the pixel defining layer is positioned outside the first openings, and the side wall parts of the pixel defining layer for defining the first openings are configured to block light. The display panel can reduce the amount of interference optical fibers entering the image receiving device, improve the identification precision and speed of the image receiving device, and improve the function of the display panel.

Description

Display panel and display device

Technical Field

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure relates to the field of display technologies, and in particular, to a display panel.

Background

In the field of intelligent terminals, fingerprint identification has the advantages of high uniqueness, high stability, high accuracy, high safety, high collectability, low cost and the like, so that the application of the fingerprint identification in electronic products is more and more extensive, and the fingerprint identification technology under the screen becomes a research and development hotspot along with the improvement of the screen occupation ratio. In the using process, the user positions the fingerprint identification area to operate. However, in the current electronic display product, there are interference lights, and if the interference lights are too much, the accuracy and speed of fingerprint identification are adversely affected, and the user experience is affected.

Disclosure of Invention

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display panel including a pixel defining layer, a light emitting device, and an image receiving device. The pixel defining layer is configured to define a plurality of first openings, the light emitting device is positioned in the first openings, and the orthographic projection of the image receiving device on the surface of the pixel defining layer is positioned outside the first openings, wherein the side wall part of the pixel defining layer for defining the first openings is configured to block light.

For example, at least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display panel further including a plurality of pixel regions, wherein each of the plurality of pixel regions includes a display region and a spacer region, the pixel defining layer is located in the spacer region, the spacer region includes an identification region, and the image receiving device overlaps the identification region, and the display panel is configured such that external light is incident from the identification region to the image receiving device.

For example, in a display panel provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a pixel defining layer includes a main body and a first light shielding structure, and at least a portion of the first light shielding structure is located on a sidewall of the main body facing a first opening.

For example, in a display panel provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first light blocking structure extends to a surface of the cover main body facing toward or away from the image receiving device outside the identification area.

For example, in a display panel provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the main body and the first light shielding structure are integrally formed. For example, the pixel defining layer includes a body and a first light shielding structure on a sidewall of the body facing the first opening, and the body and the first light shielding structure are formed by doping a continuous film layer portion, the doped portion of the film layer being the first light shielding structure, the other portion of the film layer being the body.

For example, in a display panel provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a pixel defining layer is provided to block light, and a region of the pixel defining layer located in the identification region is provided with a second opening.

For example, in a display panel provided by at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a sidewall of the pixel defining layer facing the first opening is inclined such that a diameter of a side of the first opening facing the image receiving device is smaller than a diameter of a side of the first opening facing away from the image receiving device.

For example, it is disclosed that at least one embodiment provides the display panel further comprising a substrate for carrying the pixel defining layer and the light emitting device, wherein the light emitting device is arranged such that the direction of the emitted light is directed away from the substrate, and the image receiving device is located on a side of the substrate facing away from the pixel defining layer. For example, the display panel further includes a second light shielding structure between the pixel defining layer and the image receiving device; and the part of the second shading structure, which is overlapped with the identification area, is set to be transparent.

For example, in a display panel provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a portion of the second light shielding structure located in the identification area is provided with an opening.

For example, at least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display panel in which the second light shielding structure is configured to switch between a transparent state and a non-transparent state at least in the identification region. For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a display panel in which the second light shielding structure includes a liquid crystal layer and a control electrode configured to control a deflection of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in a state where a voltage is applied. For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second light blocking structure includes a control electrode including two opposite sub-electrodes, and an electrochromic layer between the two sub-electrodes.

For example, in a display panel provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second light shielding structure is located between the substrate and the image receiving device; or the second light shielding structure is positioned inside the substrate.

For example, at least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display panel further including a substrate configured as a transparent substrate and carrying the pixel defining layer and the light emitting device; wherein the light emitting device is arranged such that the direction of the emitted light faces the substrate and the image receiving device is located at a side of the pixel defining layer facing away from the substrate. For example, further, the cathode of the light emitting device is configured as a reflective electrode and covers a surface of the pixel lower definition layer facing the image receiving device, and a portion of the cathode located in the identification area is provided with an opening.

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display device including the display panel in any one of the above embodiments.

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a display panel, including: forming a pixel defining layer and forming a plurality of first openings in the pixel defining layer; forming a plurality of light emitting devices in the first openings; providing an image receiving device, wherein the orthographic projection of the image receiving device fixed on the surface of the pixel limiting layer is positioned outside the first opening; wherein a sidewall portion of the pixel defining layer for defining the first opening is formed to block light.

In the display panel and the manufacturing method thereof according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the sidewall portion of the pixel defining layer for defining the first opening is configured to block light, so that light emitted from the light emitting device does not directly enter the image receiving device from a lateral direction, that is, an amount of disturbance light entering the image receiving device is reduced, recognition accuracy and speed of the image receiving device are improved, and performance of the display panel is improved.

Drawings

Fig. 1A is a plan view of a partial area of a display panel according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the display panel shown in FIG. 1A taken along line M-N;

fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a partial area of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a partial area of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a partial area of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a partial area of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a partial area of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a partial area of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a partial area of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a partial area of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a partial area of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

fig. 12A to 12E are process diagrams of a method for manufacturing a display panel according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be obtained by a person skilled in the art without making any creative effort based on the embodiments in the present invention, belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

In a display panel with fingerprint identification function, one side (dorsal part) that display panel and display surface carried on the back can set up image receiving device, display panel and image receiving device's part set up to transparent so that external light (by the light of fingerprint reflection) can penetrate image receiving device, so, image receiving device can discern this light and be reflected by the peak or the valley of fingerprint to realize the fingerprint identification function. However, light generated from the display panel (e.g., a light emitting device therein) may enter the image receiving device before being reflected by the fingerprint, thereby interfering with the recognition function of the image receiving device and reducing the recognition speed of the image receiving device.

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display panel, which can solve at least the above technical problems. The display panel includes a pixel defining layer, a light emitting device, and an image receiving device. The pixel defining layer is configured to define a plurality of first openings, the light emitting device is positioned in the first openings, and the orthographic projection of the image receiving device on the surface of the pixel defining layer is positioned outside the first openings, wherein the side wall part of the pixel defining layer for defining the first openings is configured to block light. The image receiving device is positioned on one side of the light emitting device, and the side wall part with the light blocking function of the pixel limiting layer can prevent light rays emitted by the light emitting device from directly entering the image receiving device from the side direction, so that the amount of interference light rays entering the image receiving device is reduced or eliminated, the identification precision and speed of the image receiving device are improved, the performance of the display panel is improved, and the user experience is improved.

For example, at least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display panel further including a plurality of pixel regions, wherein each of the plurality of pixel regions includes a display region and a spacer region, the pixel defining layer is located in the spacer region, the spacer region includes an identification region, and the image receiving device overlaps the identification region, and the display panel is configured such that external light is incident from the identification region to the image receiving device. Therefore, when the finger of the user is positioned in the pixel area, the light emitted by the light-emitting device in the pixel area is reflected back to the display panel by the finger of the user and enters the image receiving device, and therefore fingerprint identification is achieved.

It should be noted that, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, a partial region (including a plurality of pixel regions) of the display panel may be dedicated to fingerprint recognition, and the image receiving device may be disposed in the partial region. For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure, the image receiving device is distributed (e.g., uniformly) on the entire area of the display panel, so as to have a full-screen fingerprint recognition function.

Hereinafter, a display panel and a method of manufacturing the same according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In these drawings, a spatial rectangular coordinate system in which an X axis and a Y axis are parallel to a plane on which a pixel defining layer is present, a Z axis is perpendicular to the plane on which the pixel defining layer is present, and a relationship of "up" and "down" is defined in a direction of the Z axis is established with reference to the plane on which the pixel defining layer is present (the plane on which a display panel is present) to explain the position of each structure in the display panel. For example, if the image receiving device and the pixel defining layer are arranged in sequence along the positive direction of the Z-axis, then the pixel defining layer is "above" the image receiving device and the image receiving device is "below" the pixel defining layer.

As shown in fig. 1A and 1B, a display panel (one pixel region thereof is shown in the drawing) provided by at least one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a pixel defining layer 100, a light emitting device 200, and an image receiving device 300. The pixel defining layer 100 is configured to define a plurality of first openings 101, the light emitting device 200 is located in the first openings 101, an orthographic projection of the image receiving device 300 on a face of the pixel defining layer 100 is located outside the first openings 101 (i.e., the image receiving device 300 is located in a side direction of the light emitting device 200), and a side wall portion (e.g., portion 120 in the drawing) of the pixel defining layer 100 for defining the first openings 101 is configured to block light.

Note that, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the display panel includes a plurality of pixel regions, and fig. 1A and 1B show a structure of one pixel region of the display panel. For example, as shown in fig. 1A and 1B, the pixel region includes a display region 11 and a spacer region 12, the pixel defining layer 100 is located in the spacer region 12, the spacer region 12 includes an identification region 13, the image receiving device 300 overlaps the identification region 13, and the display panel is configured such that external light is incident from the identification region 13 to the image receiving device 300.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the image receiving device and the identification area may overlap partially or entirely. For example, in the case of partial overlap, the orthographic projection of the image receiving device on the pixel defining layer coincides with a portion of the identified region. For example, in the case of full overlap, the identification area 13 is located within or coincident with the orthographic projection of the image receiving device 300 on the plane of the pixel defining layer 100 as shown in fig. 1A and 1B.

In the display panel provided by the embodiment of the disclosure, as long as the sidewall portion of the pixel defining layer facing the light emitting device is configured to have a light blocking function, a specific structure of the pixel defining layer may be designed according to process requirements, where the "light blocking" may be light transmittance of zero or small, for example, 0% to 50%, and further 30%, 20%, 10%, 5%, 3%, 1%, and the like.

For example, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the planar shape of the identification area may be a circle as shown in fig. 1A, and may also be an ellipse, a triangle, a rectangle, a polygon, or other shapes, which is not limited herein.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, fingerprint recognition may be implemented using the principle of pinhole imaging. The "imaging aperture" for imaging the small aperture corresponds to the identification zone. The "imaging aperture" is a transparent structure and is not limited to an opening in a physical structure. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the defining structure for forming the "imaging aperture" is not limited. For example, the defining structure may be a structure in the display panel, such as the first light shielding structure 120a surrounding the recognition area 13 shown in fig. 2, the pixel defining layer 100b defining the second opening 102 shown in fig. 3, the second light shielding structure 500 transparent at the recognition area 13 shown in fig. 6, the second electrode 220 shown in fig. 7, and the like. For example, the defining structure may be a structure additionally attached to the display panel, for example, a structure (or a film layer) for defining the "imaging hole" is mounted (or coated, evaporated, sputtered, etc.) on the display panel. The size (e.g., along the X-axis direction) of the imaging aperture (identification area) can be designed according to actual needs, and is not limited herein.

For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure, an image receiving device may be provided having a photosensitive element. The intensity of the same light reflected by the valleys and the ridges of the fingerprint is different, the intensity of the light reflected by the fingerprint is detected through the photosensitive element, and compared with the intensity of light emitted by the corresponding pixel area, whether the light is reflected by the valleys or the ridges can be detected, so that fingerprint identification is achieved. For example, the light sensing element may include a photosensitive structure, which may include a semiconductor material that, when illuminated, generates photo-generated carriers to reduce the resistance of the optical facet structure, whereby the intensity of the reflected light may be detected. Thus, the size of the identification area is sufficient to allow light to pass through.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, several structures of the pixel defining layer are described below with reference to the drawings.

For example, in a display panel provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the pixel defining layer includes a main body and a first light blocking structure, at least a portion of which is located on a sidewall of the main body facing the first opening to define the first opening. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 1A and 1B, the pixel defining layer 100 includes a main body 110 and a first light shielding structure 120, the first light shielding structure 120 being positioned between the main body 110 and the light emitting device 200, the first light shielding structure 120 including a light shielding material to have a light blocking function.

For example, in a display panel provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a pixel defining layer includes a main body and a first light blocking structure on a sidewall of the main body facing the first opening to define the first opening, and the main body and the first light blocking structure are integrally formed. For example, the body and the first light shielding structure may be formed by doping a portion of a continuous film, the doped portion of the film being the first light shielding structure, and the other portion of the film being the body. In this way, the manufacturing process of the pixel defining layer can be simplified. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 1A and 1B, the main body 110 and the first light shielding structure 120 are juxtaposed and layered. For example, in the process of preparing the pixel defining layer, it is formed in a continuous film layer. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, "continuous" in the continuous film layer is continuous and uninterrupted in the transverse direction (in the direction parallel to the X-Y plane), and may be a single-layer film or a multilayer film in the longitudinal direction (in the direction parallel to the Z axis).

For example, the material forming the main body and the continuous film layer of the first light shielding structure may be polyimide, and the doping material may include a light absorbing material such as graphite, carbon black, and the like, and may be doped with other color materials or light absorbing materials.

For example, in a display panel provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first light shielding structure extends to a surface of the cover main body facing toward or away from the image receiving device outside the identification area. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 2, on a side (upper side in fig. 2) of the main body 110a facing away from the image receiving device 300, the first light shielding structure 120a covers a surface of the main body 110a located outside the identification area 13. The upper side of the display panel is a display side, and the lower side is a back side, so the first light shielding structure 120a can also serve as a black matrix, that is, the display side of the display panel does not need to be provided with a black matrix, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process of the display panel and being beneficial to the light and thin design of the display panel.

For example, in fig. 2, the body 110a may be formed through a patterning process, and then a light blocking material film may be deposited on the body 110a, and the first light blocking structure 120a may be obtained after the patterning process is performed on the light blocking material film. For example, the light shielding material may include graphite doped, carbon black doped polyimide, or the like.

For example, in a display panel provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a pixel defining layer is provided to block light, and a region of the pixel defining layer located in the identification region is provided with a second opening. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 3, the pixel defining layer 100b is made of a light blocking material, and the pixel defining layer 100b defines a first opening 101 for accommodating the light emitting device 200 and a second opening 102 corresponding to the identification region 13. In this way, the pixel defining layer 100b can also function as a black matrix, i.e., the display side of the display panel does not need to be provided with a black matrix, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process of the display panel and facilitating the light and thin design of the display panel.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the planar shape of the first opening and the shape of the sidewall portion of the pixel defining layer defining the first opening (the sectional shape of the first opening) are not limited. For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the planar shape of the first opening may be a rectangle as shown in fig. 1A, and may also be a triangle, a polygon, a circle, an ellipse, or other shapes, which are not limited herein. For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cross-sectional shape (cross-section along the Z-axis direction) of the first opening may be rectangular as shown in fig. 1B, 2, and 3, or may be a forward/backward trapezoidal shape or other shapes. It should be noted that the size of the first opening is generally small (nanometer or micrometer), the shape of the first opening defined in the embodiments of the present disclosure is a shape on a "macro scale", and the side of the first opening may have an irregular shape (e.g., roughness) when viewed on a "micro scale (e.g., an electron microscope).

For example, in a display panel provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a sidewall of the pixel defining layer facing the first opening is inclined such that a diameter of a side of the first opening facing the image receiving device is smaller than a diameter of a side of the first opening facing away from the image receiving device. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 4, a sidewall of the pixel defining layer 100c facing the first opening 101c is inclined such that a cross-sectional shape of the first opening 101c along the Z-axis direction is an inverted trapezoid. As such, the design of the inclined sidewall can increase the extending distance of the sidewall in the X-axis direction compared to the vertical sidewall, and improve the light shielding effect of the sidewall portion (the first light shielding structure 120 c) on the light emitted laterally of the light emitting device 200.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, in the case where the sidewall of the pixel defining layer facing the first opening is inclined, a specific process of forming the pixel defining layer is not limited.

In an example of the present disclosure, as shown in fig. 4, in a process of patterning a film to form a main body 110c by using a mask, a light transmittance of a portion of the mask corresponding to a first opening 101c and a light transmittance of a portion corresponding to the main body 110c are different, and in a boundary region where the light transmittances are different, a diffraction and scattering phenomenon may occur during exposure, so that a sidewall of the main body 110c facing the first opening 101c is an inclined surface as shown in fig. 4.

In another example of the present disclosure, as shown in fig. 4, in the process of patterning a film layer using a reticle to form a body 110c, there is a difference between the light transmittance of a portion of the reticle corresponding to a first opening 101c and the light transmittance of a portion corresponding to the body 110c, and further, the portion of the reticle corresponding to the inclined sidewall of the body 110c is designed to have a light transmittance variation. For example, the light transmittance of the portion of the reticle corresponding to the first opening 101c gradually increases or decreases from the portion to the portion corresponding to the main body 110c, so that after exposure and development, the sidewall of the main body 110c facing the first opening 101c is a slope as shown in fig. 4.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the arrangement manner of the pixel defining layer may not be limited to that shown in the above examples, and several kinds of the pixel defining layers in the above examples may be modified as long as the sidewall portion of the pixel defining layer facing the light emitting device is arranged to have a light blocking function. In the following, other configurations of the display panel will be described, taking as an example the pixel definition layer of the display panel as shown in fig. 4, unless otherwise specified.

For example, it is disclosed that at least one embodiment provides a display panel further comprising a substrate for carrying the pixel defining layer and the light emitting device, wherein the light emitting device is arranged such that the direction of the outgoing light is directed away from the substrate and the image receiving device is located at a side of the substrate facing away from the pixel defining layer. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 5, the display panel includes a substrate 400, and the pixel defining layer 100c and the light emitting device 200 are formed on the substrate 400. For example, the substrate 400 is an array substrate, which includes a substrate 401 and a circuit function layer 402 formed on the substrate 401; the light emitting device 200 may include a stack of a first electrode 210 (anode), a light emitting function layer 230, and a second electrode 220 (cathode). For example, as shown in fig. 5, the second electrodes 220 of the light emitting devices 200 may extend to cover the surface of the pixel defining layer 100c facing away from the substrate 400, so that the second electrodes 220 of the plurality of light emitting devices 200 are connected to each other to constitute a common electrode.

For example, the circuit function layer 402 has a plurality of Thin Film Transistors (TFTs) arranged in an array, and the drain of the TFTs is electrically connected to the first electrode 210. As such, the circuit function layer 402 may drive the light emitting device 200 to emit light. For example, the circuit function layer 402 may include a pixel driving circuit including a plurality of thin film transistors, capacitors, light emitting devices, and the like, and formed in various forms such as 2T1C (i.e., 2 thin film transistors (T) and 1 capacitor (C)), 3T1C, or 7T 1C. The structure, composition and the like of the circuit function layer are not limited by the embodiments of the present disclosure

The light emitting function layer 230 of the light emitting device 200 may include an organic light emitting layer. For example, the light emitting function layer 230 may further include one or a combination of a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an electron injection layer, and the like. For example, in a light emitting device, an anode, a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an organic light emitting layer, an electron transport layer, an electron injection layer, and a cathode are sequentially stacked. For example, an electron blocking layer and a hole blocking layer may be further provided in the organic light emitting functional layer, the electron blocking layer being located between the anode and the organic light emitting layer, and the hole blocking layer being located between the cathode and the organic light emitting layer.

For example, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the light emission color of the light emitting device is not limited. For example, in the light emitting device, the material of the organic light emitting layer of the light emitting functional layer may be selected according to a desired light emitting color. For example, the organic light emitting layer may emit red, green, blue, yellow, white, or other colors of light depending on the organic light emitting material used.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the light emitting device in the display panel may be set to a top emission mode or a bottom emission mode, and the setting position of the image receiving device 300 may be selected according to the emission mode of the light emitting device. Next, several structures of the display panel are explained corresponding to different emission modes of the light emitting device.

For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the light emitting devices in the display panel are arranged to be top-emitting and the image receiving devices are arranged on the side of the substrate facing away from the pixel defining layer. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 6, the light emitting device 200 is disposed to emit light in a direction away from the substrate 400, the substrate 400 being located between the pixel defining layer 100c and the image receiving device 300.

As shown in fig. 6, the first electrode 210 may be provided as a reflective electrode. For example, the reflective electrode may be a single non-transparent electrode layer, or may be a stack of a plurality of electrode materials. The stack may include a transparent electrode layer and a non-transparent electrode layer. For example, the material of the transparent electrode layer may be a material including Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), indium Zinc Oxide (IZO), indium Gallium Oxide (IGO), gallium Zinc Oxide (GZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), indium oxide (In 2O 3), aluminum Zinc Oxide (AZO), carbon nanotubes, and the like; the material of the non-transparent electrode layer may be chromium, silver, lithium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, aluminum, indium, copper, gold, or an alloy thereof.

As shown in fig. 6, the second electrode 220 may be provided as a transparent electrode. For example, the material of the second electrode 220 may be chromium, silver, lithium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, aluminum, indium, copper, gold, or other metals or alloys thereof, and the second electrode 220 may be made transparent by reducing the thickness thereof, depending on the material.

For example, in at least one embodiment disclosed, in a case where the light emitting device in the display panel is configured to be top-emitting, the display panel may further include a second light shielding structure, the second light shielding structure being located between the pixel defining layer and the image receiving device; and the part of the second shading structure, which is overlapped with the identification area, is set to be transparent. Therefore, the second shading structure can further shade the interference light rays emitted to the image receiving device, so that the identification precision and speed of the image receiving device are improved, and the function of the display panel is improved. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 6, the second light shielding structure 500 is located between the pixel defining layer 100c and the image receiving device 300, and a portion of the second light shielding structure 500 overlapping the identification area 13 is provided to be transparent so that external light (fingerprint reflection light) can be incident into the image receiving device 300.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, under the condition that the portion of the second light shielding structure overlapping the identification area is set to be transparent, the specific structure of the second light shielding structure is not limited, and may be designed according to actual needs. Next, several designs of the second light shielding structure will be described with reference to several specific examples.

For example, in a display panel provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a portion of the second light shielding structure located in the identification area is provided with an opening. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 6, the second light shielding structure 500 is a film layer made of a light shielding material, which defines an opening 501 at the identification area 13 so that external light (fingerprint reflection light) can be incident into the image receiving device 300. For example, the light-shielding material may be a metal such as titanium, aluminum, molybdenum, or copper, or an alloy thereof, or may be another non-metallic material.

For example, at least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display panel in which the second light shielding structure is configured to switch between a transparent state and a non-transparent state at least in the identification region. For example, the portion of the second light blocking structure located in the identification area may be switchable between a transparent state and a non-transparent state, or the entirety of the second light blocking structure may be switchable between a transparent state and a non-transparent state. Therefore, when fingerprint identification is not needed, the display panel can realize a normally black state, light leakage is prevented, and the contrast of a display image can be improved. For example, in a display panel provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second light shielding structure is located between the substrate and the image receiving device; or the second light shielding structure is positioned inside the substrate.

For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, a display panel is provided, in which, under a condition that at least a portion of the second light shielding structure located in the identification region is configured to switch between the transparent state and the non-transparent state, a portion of the second light shielding structure located outside the identification region is also configured to switch between the transparent state and the non-transparent state. Therefore, the whole second shading structure can be switched between a transparent state and a non-transparent state, and the identification area can be controlled to be in the transparent state or not according to needs, so that the fingerprint identification function cannot be influenced. In addition, when the second light shielding structure is in a transparent state, the display panel can be designed to be in a transparent display mode. So, this scheme is when guaranteeing that display panel has the fingerprint identification function for display panel can switch between transparent demonstration and non-transparent demonstration, improves user's experience.

Next, in the case where the second light shielding structure has a function of switching between a transparent state and a non-transparent state, several structures of the second light shielding structure will be described.

For example, in a display panel provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second light shielding structure may be provided as a liquid crystal structure. For example, the second light shielding structure includes a liquid crystal layer and a control electrode configured to control a deflection of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in a state where a voltage is applied. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 8, the second light shielding structure 500a is located between the substrate 400 and the image receiving device 300, the second light shielding structure 500a includes a liquid crystal layer 530a and a control electrode, the liquid crystal control electrode includes an upper electrode 510a and a lower electrode 520a, the upper electrode 510a includes a first sub-upper electrode 511a located outside the identification region and a second sub-upper electrode 512a located in the identification region, and the lower electrode 520a includes a first sub-lower electrode 521a located outside the identification region and a second sub-lower electrode 522a located in the identification region. For example, the liquid crystal structure may further include an alignment layer, a polarization layer, and the like, and the arrangement manner of the alignment layer and the polarization layer may refer to a conventional liquid crystal display panel, which is not described herein again.

For example, the upper electrode 510a and the lower electrode 520a are transparent electrodes, and the transparent electrode material may include Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), indium Zinc Oxide (IZO), indium Gallium Oxide (IGO), gallium Zinc Oxide (GZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), indium oxide (In 2O 3), aluminum Zinc Oxide (AZO), carbon nanotubes, and the like.

As shown in fig. 8, a voltage signal may be applied to the second sub upper electrode 512a and the second sub lower electrode 522a, so that the portion of the second light shielding structure 500a located in the identification area 13 assumes a transparent state; another voltage signal may be applied to the first sub upper electrode 511a and the first sub lower electrode 521a so that the portion of the second light shielding structure 500a located in the identification region 13 assumes a non-transparent state (black state), in which case fingerprint identification may be performed. Accordingly, the entire second light shielding structure 500a can be in a transparent state or a non-transparent state by controlling a voltage applied to the control electrode.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, in the case that the second light-shielding structure is a liquid crystal structure, the control electrode may be designed according to a specific process, and is not limited to be disposed on two sides of the liquid crystal layer as shown in fig. 8, and may also be disposed on the same side of the liquid crystal layer.

For example, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the case where the second light shielding structure is a liquid crystal structure, the liquid crystal structure may be interposed between two bottom plates to form a liquid crystal cell. For example, one of the two bottom plates may be a substrate 401 of the substrate 400 shown in fig. 6, which is advantageous for the light and thin design of the display panel.

For example, in a display panel provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second light blocking structure is an electrochromic structure including a control electrode and an electrochromic layer, the control electrode includes two opposite sub-electrodes, and the electrochromic layer is located between the two sub-electrodes. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 9, the second light shielding structure 500b is located between the substrate 400 and the image receiving device 300, the second light shielding structure 500b includes an electrochromic layer 530b and a control electrode, the control electrode includes an upper electrode 510b and a lower electrode 520b, the upper electrode 510b includes a first sub-upper electrode 511b located outside the identification region and a second sub-upper electrode 512b located in the identification region, and the lower electrode 520b includes a first sub-lower electrode 521b located outside the identification region and a second sub-lower electrode 522b located in the identification region. After voltage is applied to both sides, the electrochromic layer may change color, and by controlling the application of voltage to the upper electrode 510b and the lower electrode 520b, the electrochromic layer may be switched between a colorless state and a colored state (e.g., a black state, etc.), so that the second light shielding structure 500b has a sum function of switching between a transparent state and a non-transparent state.

For example, the material of the electrochromic layer may be a solid material. For example, the solid material may be an inorganic material or an organic material. The inorganic material may include transition metal oxides and derivatives thereof, such as tungsten oxide (WO) ₃ ) Molybdenum oxide (MoO 3), nickel oxide (NiO), iridium oxide (IrOx), and the like; the organic material may include redox compounds, metal chelates, conductive polymers, etc., such as viologen, phthalocyanine, polyaniline, etc. The upper electrode 510b and the lower electrode 520b are transparent electrodes, and the material of the transparent electrodes may include Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), indium Zinc Oxide (IZO), indium Gallium Oxide (IGO), gallium Zinc Oxide (GZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), indium oxide (In) ₂ O ₃ ) Aluminum Zinc Oxide (AZO), carbon nanotubes, and the like.

For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, in a case that the second light shielding structure is an electrochromic structure, the second light shielding structure may be disposed in the substrate, that is, the second light shielding structure is integrated in the array substrate, which may reduce a manufacturing process of the display panel, and is beneficial to the light weight and the flexible design of the display panel. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 9, the second light shielding structure 500b is located between the substrate base 401 and the circuit function layer 402 of the base 400. For example, after the second light shielding structure 500b is formed on the substrate base 401, a buffer layer 403 may be deposited on the second light shielding structure 500b to planarize a surface of the second light shielding structure 500b, and then a process flow of manufacturing an array substrate may be performed to form the circuit function layer 402.

For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure, in a case that the second light shielding structure is an electrochromic structure, the second light shielding structure may be disposed between the substrate and the image receiving device, and this scheme may refer to the second light shielding structure 500a shown in fig. 8, which is not described herein again.

For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure, the light emitting device in the display panel is configured as a bottom emission, the substrate is configured as a transparent substrate, the light emitting device is configured such that the direction of the emitted light faces the substrate, and the image receiving device is located on a side of the pixel defining layer facing away from the substrate. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 7, the light emitting device 200 is configured to emit light toward the substrate 400, and the pixel defining layer 100c is positioned between the substrate 400 and the image receiving device 300.

As shown in fig. 6, the first electrode 210 is provided as a transparent electrode layer, and the second electrode 220 may be provided as a reflective electrode layer. For example, the material of the transparent electrode layer may be Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), indium Zinc Oxide (IZO), indium Gallium Oxide (IGO), gallium Zinc Oxide (GZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), indium oxide (In) ₂ O ₃ ) Aluminum Zinc Oxide (AZO), and carbon nanotubes; the material of the reflective electrode layer may be chromium, silver, lithium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, aluminum, indium, copper, gold, or an alloy thereof.

For example, in a display panel provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a cathode of a light emitting device is configured as a reflective electrode and covers a surface of a pixel lower definition layer facing an image receiving device, and a portion of the cathode located in an identification region is provided with an opening. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 7, a portion of the cathode 9 (second electrode 220) of the light emitting device 200 located in the identification area 13 is removed to form an opening so that external light (fingerprint reflection light) can be incident into the image receiving device 300. Therefore, the second shading structure in the embodiment is not required to be arranged, the preparation process of the display panel is simplified, and the light and thin design of the display panel is facilitated.

For example, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the display panel may further include an encapsulation layer, and further may further include an encapsulation cover plate. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 10, an encapsulation layer 600 covers the light emitting devices and the pixel defining layer in the display panel and planarizes the display panel surface, and a cover plate 700 covers the encapsulation layer 600 to further encapsulate the display panel and protect the components inside the display panel.

For example, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the encapsulation layer may have a single layer structure or a composite structure of at least two layers. For example, the material of the encapsulation layer may include an insulating material such as silicon nitride, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, or polymer resin. For example, the encapsulation layer may include a first inorganic encapsulation layer, an organic encapsulation layer, and a second inorganic encapsulation layer sequentially disposed on the light emitting device. For example, the materials of the first inorganic encapsulation layer and the second inorganic encapsulation layer may include inorganic materials, such as silicon nitride, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, and the like, which have high compactness and can prevent intrusion of water, oxygen, and the like; for example, the material of the organic encapsulation layer may be a polymer material containing a desiccant, a polymer material that blocks moisture, or the like, such as a polymer resin, to planarize the surface of the display panel, and may relieve stress of the first inorganic encapsulation layer and the second inorganic encapsulation layer, and may further include a water-absorbing material such as a desiccant to absorb substances such as water, oxygen, and the like that intrude into the inside.

For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the image receiving device may be adhered to the substrate or the encapsulation layer by a glue layer. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 10, the image receiving device 300 is secured to the side of the substrate facing away from the pixel defining layer by a glue layer 800 (e.g., OC glue, PI glue, etc.).

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display device including the display panel in any one of the above embodiments. For example, the display device may include a flexible circuit board and a control chip fixed on the flexible circuit board, and the flexible circuit board may be fixed on the display panel by a binding manner to implement signal connection between the control chip and a circuit in the display panel. For example, the flexible circuit board may be bent to fix the control chip to the rear surface of the display panel. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 11, a control chip 2 is fixed on a flexible circuit board 1, and one end of the flexible circuit board 1 is fixed on a Bonding area of the display panel to be connected with a circuit in the display panel. For example, the flexible circuit board 1 is in signal connection with the circuit function layer 402 and the image receiving device 300, so that the control chip 2 can perform signal reception or instruction transmission on the circuit function layer 402 and the image receiving device 300.

Note that, in fig. 11, the connection of the plurality of image receiving devices 300 represents that each image receiving device 300 is signal-connected to the control chip 2. Other structures (such as the package layer 600) in fig. 11 can refer to the related description in the embodiment shown in fig. 10, and are not repeated herein.

For example, the control chip may be a central processing unit, a digital signal processor, a single chip, a programmable logic controller, or the like. For example, the control chip may further include a memory, a power module, and the like, and power supply and signal input and output functions are realized through additionally arranged wires, signal lines, and the like. For example, the control chip may also include hardware circuitry, computer executable code, and the like. The hardware circuits may include conventional Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits or gate arrays and off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components; the hardware circuitry may also include field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices, or the like.

For example, in the display device, a touch structure may be further disposed on the display panel to have a touch function, and a light splitting element (e.g., a light splitting grating) may be further disposed on the display side of the display panel, so that the display device may have a three-dimensional display function.

For example, the display device may be any product or component with a display function, such as a tablet computer, a television, a monitor, a notebook computer, a digital photo frame, and a navigator.

For clarity, the entire structures of the display panel and the display device are not described. In order to implement the necessary functions of the display panel and the display device, a person skilled in the art may set other structures according to specific application scenarios, and the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a display panel, the method including: forming a pixel defining layer and forming a plurality of first openings in the pixel defining layer; forming a plurality of light emitting devices in the first openings; providing an image receiving device, wherein the orthographic projection of the image receiving device fixed on the surface of the pixel limiting layer is positioned outside the first opening; wherein a sidewall portion of the pixel defining layer for defining the first opening is formed to block light. In the display panel obtained by the preparation method, the image receiving device is positioned on one side of the light emitting device, and the side wall part with the light blocking function of the pixel limiting layer can prevent light rays emitted by the light emitting device from directly entering the image receiving device from the side direction, so that the amount of interference light rays entering the image receiving device is reduced or eliminated, the identification precision and speed of the image receiving device are improved, the performance of the display panel is improved, and the user experience is improved. The specific structure of the display panel obtained by the above preparation method can be referred to the relevant description in the foregoing embodiments, and is not described herein again.

In the following, taking the manufacturing of the display panel as shown in fig. 5 as an example, in a specific example provided by the present disclosure, a method for manufacturing the display panel is explained.

As shown in fig. 12A, a substrate 401 is provided and a circuit function layer 402 is fabricated on the substrate 401, then a conductive material film layer is deposited on the circuit function layer 402 (e.g., a passivation layer or a planarization layer therein) and subjected to a patterning process to form a plurality of first electrodes 210, and then a film layer 111 for forming a pixel defining layer is deposited (e.g., spin-coated).

For example, the material of which the base substrate 401 is made may include glass, resin (e.g., polyimide, polycarbonate, polyacrylate, polyetherimide, polyethersulfone, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, and the like), quartz, metal, and the like. For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, substrate base plate 401 may be provided as a rigid structure. For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the substrate 401 may be provided as a flexible structure so that the display panel may be used in the field of flexible display.

For example, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the patterning process may be a photolithographic patterning process, which may include, for example: the method includes the steps of coating photoresist on a structural layer to be patterned, exposing the photoresist by using a mask plate, developing the exposed photoresist to obtain a photoresist pattern, etching the structural layer by using the photoresist pattern, and then optionally removing the photoresist pattern. It should be noted that if the patterned structural layer includes photoresist, the process of coating the photoresist may not be required.

As shown in fig. 12A to 12B, the film layer 111 is patterned to form a plurality of openings exposing the first electrodes 210, and the film layer 111 is patterned to form the body 110c.

As shown in fig. 12B-12C, a light-shielding material film 121 is deposited (e.g., spin-coated) on the body 110C, covering the body 110C and the first electrode 210.

As shown in fig. 12C to 12D, the light blocking material film 121 is patterned to form a plurality of first openings, the first openings expose the first electrodes 210, and the light blocking material film 121 is patterned to form the first light blocking structures 120C, wherein the first light blocking structures 120C are located between the body 110C and the first openings.

As shown in fig. 12D to 12E, the light emission functional layer 230 is formed in the first opening, and then a conductive material film layer is deposited on the light emission functional layer 230 to form the second electrode 220.

The above description is only for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention, and any modifications, equivalents and the like that are within the spirit and principle of the present invention are included in the present invention.

Claims

1. A display panel, comprising:

a pixel defining layer disposed to define a plurality of first openings;

a light emitting device in the first opening;

an image receiving device, wherein the orthographic projection of the image receiving device on the surface of the pixel limiting layer is positioned outside the first opening, and the side wall part of the pixel limiting layer used for limiting the first opening is arranged to block light;

a plurality of pixel regions each including a display region and a spacer region, the pixel defining layer being located in the spacer region, the spacer region including an identification region, wherein the image receiving device overlaps the identification region, the display panel being configured such that ambient light is incident from the identification region to the image receiving device; and

a second light blocking structure located between the pixel defining layer and the image receiving device, a portion of the second light blocking structure overlapping the identification region being configured to be transparent, and at least in the identification region, the second light blocking structure being configured to switch between a transparent state and a non-transparent state.

2. The display panel of claim 1,

the pixel defining layer comprises a main body and a first shading structure, at least one part of the first shading structure is positioned on the side wall of the main body facing the first opening, wherein the first shading structure extends to cover the surface of the main body facing to or away from the image receiving device and positioned outside the identification area, or the main body and the first shading structure are integrally formed; or

The pixel defining layer is provided to block light, and a region of the pixel defining layer located at the recognition area is provided with a second opening.

3. The display panel of any of claims 1-2,

the side wall of the pixel defining layer facing the first opening is inclined so that the diameter of the side of the first opening facing the image receiving device is smaller than the diameter of the side of the first opening facing away from the image receiving device.

4. The display panel of any of claims 1-2, further comprising:

a substrate carrying the pixel defining layer and the light emitting device;

wherein the light emitting device is arranged such that the direction of the emitted light is away from the substrate, and the image receiving device is located on a side of the substrate away from the pixel defining layer.

5. The display panel of claim 4,

the second light shielding structure includes a liquid crystal layer and a control electrode configured to control deflection of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in a state where a voltage is applied; or

The second shading structure comprises a control electrode and an electrochromic layer, the control electrode comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, the electrochromic layer is located between the first electrode and the second electrode, the second shading structure is located between the substrate and the image receiving device, or the second shading structure is located inside the substrate.

6. The display panel of any of claims 1-2, further comprising:

a substrate configured as a transparent substrate and carrying the pixel defining layer and the light emitting device;

wherein the light emitting device is disposed such that a direction of the emitted light faces the substrate, and the image receiving device is located on a side of the pixel defining layer facing away from the substrate.

7. The display panel of claim 6,

the cathode of the light emitting device is configured as a reflective electrode and covers a surface of the pixel defining layer facing the image receiving device, and a portion of the cathode located in the identification region is provided with an opening.

8. A display device characterized by comprising the display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 7.