CN117250786A

CN117250786A - display panel

Info

Publication number: CN117250786A
Application number: CN202210654380.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 许正隆; 陈永宗; 陈永哲; 陈宗源
Original assignee: Hannstar Display Corp
Current assignee: Hannstar Display Corp
Priority date: 2022-06-10
Filing date: 2022-06-10
Publication date: 2023-12-19

Abstract

The invention provides a display panel which comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, a display medium layer, a structural layer, an alignment layer and a sealing layer. The first substrate is provided with a display area and a non-display area. The display medium layer is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate. The structure layer is provided with a plurality of micro grooves in the non-display area of the first substrate. The alignment layer is arranged between the display medium layer and the first substrate. The alignment layer covers the display area and extends to the non-display area to overlap with part of the micro grooves. The alignment layer includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is located between one of the micro grooves closest to the display area and the display area. The second portion is located between adjacent two of the micro grooves. The first portion and the second portion have a first film thickness and a second film thickness, respectively, along a normal direction of the structure surface, and the second film thickness is smaller than the first film thickness. The sealing layer is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate and is positioned in the non-display area. The sealing layer overlaps at least a portion of the micro grooves.

Description

Display panel

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a display panel, and more particularly, to a display panel with an alignment layer.

Background

One current display panel uses an alignment layer to orient the display medium layer, and the alignment layer material is mainly coated by relief printing (Anastatic printing). Specifically, the relief printing is applied by adhering an alignment liquid to a flexible plate made of a resin and having micro grooves on the surface thereof. During the imprinting process, the alignment liquid in the micro-grooves is squeezed and transferred from the flexible plate to the substrate of the display panel.

However, this way of coating the alignment material has certain requirements for process accuracy. In particular, display panels with narrow bezel designs, the accuracy requirements for relief printing are even more stringent. If the precision of the soft board printing is insufficient, the alignment layer is easy to deviate and cover the frame glue coating area, so that the adhesive capability of the frame glue is reduced or the peripheral circuit is electrically disabled, and the reliability is caused.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is directed to a display panel with better reliability.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a display panel comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, a display medium layer, a structural layer, an alignment layer and a sealing layer. The first substrate is provided with a display area and a non-display area except the display area. The second substrate is arranged opposite to the first substrate. The display medium layer is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate. The structure layer is arranged on the first substrate, and a plurality of micro grooves are arranged in the non-display area. The micro grooves are respectively recessed from the structural surface of the structural layer. The alignment layer is arranged between the display medium layer and the first substrate. The alignment layer covers the display region and extends to the non-display region. The alignment layer covers part of the structure surface and overlaps part of the micro grooves. The alignment layer includes a first portion and a second portion overlying the structured surface. The first portion is located between one of the micro grooves closest to the display area and the display area. The second portion is located between adjacent two of the micro grooves. The first portion and the second portion have a first film thickness and a second film thickness, respectively, along a normal direction of the structure surface, and the second film thickness is smaller than the first film thickness. The sealing layer is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate and is positioned in the non-display area. The sealing layer overlaps at least a portion of the micro grooves.

In the display panel according to the embodiment of the invention, the ratio of the second film thickness to the first film thickness is less than 0.5.

In the display panel according to the embodiment of the invention, the structural surface of the structural layer has a plurality of cell surfaces. A plurality of micro grooves are respectively positioned at the geometric centers of the surfaces of the units. The cell surfaces each have a plurality of openings defining a plurality of micro-grooves. Any of these unit surfaces has a surface area A1. One of the openings corresponding to the any one of the cell surfaces has an opening area A2, and the display panel satisfies the following relationship: A1/(A1+A2) is less than or equal to 0.2 and less than or equal to 0.4.

In the display panel according to the embodiment of the invention, the plurality of micro grooves are arranged along the first direction at the first pitch P. Any of the micro grooves has an opening width W at the structure surface and along the first direction and a groove depth D along the normal direction of the structure surface, and the display panel satisfies the following relationship: D/(P-W) >0.7.

In the display panel according to the embodiment of the invention, the plurality of micro grooves are structurally separated from each other.

In the display panel according to the embodiment of the invention, the structural layer has the groove side surface and the groove bottom surface defining each micro groove. The side surface of the groove is connected with the surface of the structure and the bottom surface of the groove. The alignment layer covers the groove bottom surface of the first micro groove closest to the display area and exposes the groove side surface of the first micro groove.

In the display panel according to the embodiment of the invention, the sealing layer extends to the first micro groove and contacts the portion of the groove side surface of the first micro groove exposed by the alignment layer.

In the display panel according to the embodiment of the invention, the structure surface of the structure layer has a plurality of openings defining a plurality of micro grooves, and the opening widths of the openings respectively decrease or increase as moving away from the display area.

In the display panel according to the embodiment of the invention, the plurality of micro grooves includes a plurality of first micro grooves and a plurality of second micro grooves alternately arranged in a direction away from the display area. The structural surface of the structural layer has a first opening defining each first micro-groove and a second opening defining each second micro-groove. The first opening and the second opening have a first opening width and a second opening width along the arrangement direction, respectively, and the first opening width is different from the second opening width.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the display panel further comprises a conductive layer arranged on the structural layer. The structural layer has a groove side surface and a groove bottom surface defining each micro groove. The side surface of the groove is connected with the surface of the structure and the bottom surface of the groove. The conductive layer has side portions and bottom portions covering the side surfaces and bottom surfaces of the groove, respectively. The alignment layer covers a bottom surface portion of the conductive layer in the first micro groove closest to the display area and exposes a portion of a side surface portion of the conductive layer in the first micro groove.

Based on the above, in the display panel according to an embodiment of the invention, the structure layer is provided with a plurality of micro grooves recessed from the surface of the structure in the non-display area. The alignment layer for orienting the display medium layer extends from the display area to the non-display area and ends in the area where the micro grooves are provided. Therefore, the coating elasticity of the alignment layer can be increased, and the production yield of the display panel can be improved.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic top view of a display panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of a partial area of the display panel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the display panel of FIG. 1;

fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a structural layer of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a structural layer of another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display panel of a third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a schematic top view of a partial area of a display panel according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 is a schematic top view of a partial area of a display panel according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 is a schematic plan view of a partial area of a display panel according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the reference numerals

10. 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E: a display panel;

110: a first substrate;

110e: a substrate edge;

120: a second substrate;

150. 150A, 150B, 150C, 150D, 150E: a structural layer;

150s: a structural surface;

150bs: the bottom surface of the groove;

150ss: a groove side;

155. 155A, 155B, 155C, 155D, 155E, 155-1, 155-2: a micro groove;

170: a conductive layer;

171: a side portion;

173: a bottom surface portion;

180: an alignment layer;

180p1: a first portion;

180p2: a second portion;

180p3: a third section;

190: a microconductor;

200: a display medium layer;

250. 250A: a sealing layer;

d: groove depth;

DA: a display area;

EL1: a first electrode layer;

EL2: a second electrode layer;

EL3: a third electrode layer;

GC. GC1, GC2: a geometric center;

INS1: a first insulating layer;

INS2: a second insulating layer;

MSZ: a microstructure region;

NDA: a non-display area;

OC: a coating layer;

OP, OP-A, OP-B, OP1, OP2: opening holes;

p: a pitch;

SCL: a semiconductor layer;

t1, t2, t3: film thickness;

US, US1, US2: a cell surface;

w, W1, W2: opening width;

x, Y, Z: a direction;

z1: a region;

A-A': and (5) cutting.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

Fig. 1 is a schematic top view of a display panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of a partial region Z1 of the display panel of fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the display panel of fig. 1. Fig. 3 corresponds to the section line A-A' of fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention. For clarity of presentation, the micro grooves 155 of FIG. 2 are omitted from illustration in FIG. 1.

Referring to fig. 1 to 3, the display panel 10 includes a first substrate 110, a second substrate 120, a structural layer 150, and a display medium layer 200. The first substrate 110 is provided with a display area DA and a non-display area NDA other than the display area DA. The second substrate 120 is disposed opposite to the first substrate 110. The structural layer 150 is disposed on the first substrate 110. The materials of the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 may include glass, quartz, polymer, or other suitable hard substrate materials or flexible substrate materials. The display medium layer 200 is, for example, a liquid crystal layer, and is disposed between the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120.

The structural layer 150 is disposed on the first substrate 110 and extends from the display area DA to the non-display area NDA. In the present embodiment, the structure layer 150 is an organic coating layer, and the material of the organic coating layer may include, but is not limited to, organic resin materials such as silicone series, or acryl series. Of particular note, the structural layer 150 has a structural surface 150s, and a plurality of micro grooves 155 recessed from the structural surface 150s are provided within the non-display area NDA. The extent of the distribution of the micro grooves 155 in the non-display area NDA may define a microstructure area MSZ surrounding the display area DA. In this embodiment, the micro grooves 155 may be arrayed in the microstructure area MSZ along the direction X and the direction Y, respectively.

In the present embodiment, the orthographic projection profile of the micro groove 155 on the first substrate 110 is, for example, circular, but not limited thereto. In other embodiments not shown, the orthographic projection profile of the micro grooves on the first substrate 110 may also be triangular, rectangular or other suitable shape.

In order to align the display medium layer 200 in a specific direction, an alignment layer 180 is further provided between the display medium layer 200 and the structural layer 150. The alignment layer 180 covers the entire display area DA and extends to the non-display area NDA. More specifically, whether on the upper, lower, left or right side of the display area DA in fig. 1, the alignment layer 180 extends to the non-display area NDA and ends in the microstructure area MSZ. That is, the alignment layer 180 extending to the non-display area NDA is partially overlapped with the microstructure area MSZ around the display area DA.

It is specifically noted that the overlapping degree of the alignment layer 180 and the microstructure area MSZ in the non-display area NDA may depend on the configuration of the micro grooves 155, for example: the arrangement pitch, opening size, and groove depth of the micro grooves 155. For example, since the region Z1 of fig. 2 is located at one side of the display area DA of fig. 1 in the horizontal direction (e.g., the direction X), the micro grooves 155 may be arranged along the direction X at the pitch P and each have an opening width W at the structure surface 150s and along the direction X. These micro grooves 155 each have a groove depth D along the normal direction (e.g., direction Z) of the structured surface 150s, and satisfy the following relationship: D/(P-W) >0.7. Accordingly, the wetting ability (wetability) of the alignment layer 180 to the structural layer 150 in the microstructure region MSZ may be reduced to prevent further diffusion of the alignment layer 180 toward the substrate edge 110 e. In other words, by the arrangement of the micro grooves 155, the influence of the alignment material on the electrical property of the peripheral circuit or the adhesion property of the sealing layer when the alignment material is offset is reduced, which is helpful to increase the coating elasticity of the alignment layer 180.

Although not shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the arrangement pitch and the aperture width of a plurality of micro grooves (not shown) disposed at the upper side (or lower side) of the display area DA in fig. 1 are defined along the direction Y, and the distribution of the alignment layer 180 at the upper side (or lower side) of the display area DA is also terminated at the microstructure area MSZ by satisfying the above-described relation.

From another point of view, the structural surface 150s of the structural layer 150 may be divided into a plurality of unit surfaces US in the microstructure area MSZ, and the plurality of micro grooves 155 are respectively located at the geometric centers GC of the unit surfaces US. These cell surfaces US each have a plurality of openings OP defining a plurality of micro grooves 155. Any one of the cell surfaces US has a surface area A1 and its aperture OP has an aperture area A2. In order to further increase the hydrophobicity of the structural layer 150 to the alignment layer 180 in the microstructure region MSZ, the structural layer 150 may further satisfy the following relationship: A1/(A1+A2) is less than or equal to 0.2 and less than or equal to 0.4.

It should be noted that, in the microstructure area MSZ, the structure layer 150 of the present disclosure only needs to satisfy one of the two relationships, so as to reduce the wettability of the alignment layer 180 by the structure surface 150 s. The hydrophobic nature of alignment layer 180 in microstructure area MSZ is more pronounced if it is simultaneously satisfied.

On the other hand, the plurality of micro grooves 155 of the structural layer 150 may be structurally separated from each other. That is, the micro grooves 155 do not communicate with each other. Therefore, in the process of coating the alignment layer 180, when the alignment liquid is covered in the micro-grooves 155 at the openings OP, a closed space is formed, and the gas (e.g. air) in the space can support the alignment liquid above. Accordingly, the amount of liquid that the alignment liquid permeates into the micro grooves 155 during the coating process can be effectively reduced, thereby further reducing the wetting ability of the alignment layer 180 to the structured surface 150s in the microstructure area MSZ.

In this embodiment, the alignment layer 180 covers only a portion of the structure surface 150s of the structure layer 150 in the non-display area NDA, and the film thickness in the non-display area NDA decreases from one side of the display area DA to one side of the substrate edge 110e (shown in fig. 1) (shown in fig. 3).

Specifically, the alignment layer 180 may include a first portion 180p1, a second portion 180p2, and a third portion 180p3 within the non-display area NDA. The first portion 180p1 is located between one of the plurality of micro grooves 155 closest to the display area DA and the display area DA, the second portion 180p2 is located between adjacent two of the plurality of micro grooves 155 closest to the display area DA and arranged along the direction X (e.g., the micro groove 155a and the micro groove 155 b), and the third portion 180p3 is located between adjacent two of the plurality of micro grooves 155 next closest to the display area DA and arranged along the direction X (e.g., the micro groove 155b and the micro groove 155 c).

The alignment layer 180 has a first film thickness t1, a second film thickness t2, and a third film thickness t3 along a normal direction of the structure surface 150s in the first portion 180p1, the second portion 180p2, and the third portion 180p3 of the non-display area NDA, respectively. The third film thickness t3 is smaller than the second film thickness t2, and the second film thickness t2 is smaller than the first film thickness t1. Preferably, the ratio of the second film thickness t2 to the first film thickness t1 may be less than 0.5.

Further, the structural layer 150 also has groove sides 150ss and groove bottom surfaces 150bs defining micro grooves 155, wherein the groove sides 150ss connect the structural surfaces 150s and groove bottom surfaces 150bs. Since the hydrophobicity of the structural layer 150 to the alignment layer 180 in the microstructure area MSZ is improved due to the arrangement of the micro grooves 155, only a portion of the alignment layer 180 remains in a portion of the micro grooves 155. For example, a portion of the alignment layer 180 also covers the groove bottom 150bs of the micro groove 155a (or the micro groove 155 b) and exposes the groove side 150ss of the micro groove 155 a.

The display panel 10 further includes a sealing layer 250 disposed between the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 and located in the non-display area NDA. In detail, the sealing layer 250 is disposed around the display area DA and connects the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 to form a closed cavity, and the display medium layer 200 is filled in the cavity. The material of the sealing layer 250 includes, for example, acrylic resin (acrylic resin), epoxy resin (epoxy resin), photo-sensitive polymer (photo-active) material, or other suitable sealing materials.

In this embodiment, the sealing layer 250 may partially overlap the plurality of micro grooves 155 in the microstructure area MSZ and not overlap the alignment layer 180. That is, the sealing layer 250 of the present embodiment does not cover the alignment layer 180, which can ensure the adhesion performance of the sealing layer 250, thereby improving the production yield and reliability of the display panel 10. In this embodiment, a gap may be disposed between the sealing layer 250 and the alignment layer 180, wherein the gap is shown as a region between the right boundary of the alignment layer 180 and the left boundary of the sealing layer 250 in fig. 2.

However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Referring to fig. 4, in another embodiment, the sealing layer 250A of the display panel 10A may also cover the portion of the alignment layer 180 in the non-display area NDA. Because of the arrangement of the micro grooves 155, the hydrophobic property of the structural layer 150 on the alignment layer 180 in the micro structure region MSZ may be improved, and the groove sides 150ss of the micro grooves 155 may be exposed even if the alignment layer 180 extends into a portion of the micro grooves 155. Therefore, even if the sealing layer 250A covers the alignment layer 180, the sealing layer 250A can directly contact the groove side 150ss exposed by the alignment layer 180, helping to ensure the adhesion capability of the sealing layer 250A.

Further, the display panel 10 of the present embodiment may further include a plurality of scan lines (scan lines), a plurality of data lines (data lines), and a plurality of pixel structures (not shown). The scan lines and the data lines intersect each other, and a plurality of pixel regions (not shown) are defined in the display region DA. The pixel structures are respectively located in the pixel regions, and each pixel structure is provided with an active element (not shown) and a pixel electrode (not shown) which are electrically connected with each other, wherein the active element is electrically connected with the pixel electrode, a corresponding scanning line and a corresponding data line. The active elements can be independently controlled through a corresponding scanning line and a corresponding data line respectively, so that a plurality of corresponding pixel electrodes have the same or different electric potentials. The electric field formed by the enabled pixel electrode can drive the liquid crystal molecules of the display medium layer 200 to rotate, so as to modulate the polarization state of the polarized light incident on the display medium layer 200, and achieve the display effect by changing the light intensity of the polarized light after passing through the display panel 10.

It should be noted that the display panel 10 may further include another alignment layer (not shown) disposed on the second substrate 120. In order to enhance the coating elasticity of the other alignment layer on the second substrate 120, the second substrate 120 may also be provided with another structural layer (not shown) similar to the above-described structural layer 150. Since the configuration of the alignment layer and the structural layer of the display medium layer 200 on the second substrate 120 side is similar to the configuration of the alignment layer 180 and the structural layer 150, please refer to the related paragraphs in detail, and the detailed description is omitted here.

Other embodiments will be listed below to describe the present disclosure in detail, wherein like components will be denoted by like reference numerals, and descriptions of the same technical content will be omitted, and reference is made to the foregoing embodiments for parts, which will not be repeated below.

Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a structural layer of an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 5, unlike the structure layer 150 of fig. 3, which is an organic coating layer made of a single material, the structure layer 150A may be made of multiple layers made of different materials. For example, the structure layer 150A may include a first electrode layer EL1, a first insulating layer INS1, a semiconductor layer SCL, a second electrode layer EL2, and a second insulating layer INS2 sequentially disposed on the first substrate 110. The first insulating layer INS1 covers the first electrode layer EL1. The semiconductor layer SCL and the second electrode layer EL2 are provided on the first insulating layer INS1, and are covered with the second insulating layer INS2.

It is particularly noted that the plurality of micro grooves 155A of the structural layer 150A are disposed at portions of the first insulating layer INS1 and the second insulating layer INS2 in the non-display area NDA, and expose a portion of the surface of the first electrode layer EL1. In order to increase the electrical signal conducting capability, the structural layer 150A may further include a third electrode layer EL3 disposed on the second insulating layer INS2, and the third electrode layer EL3 extends into the micro groove 155A to electrically connect to the first electrode layer EL1.

The materials of the first insulating layer INS1 and the second insulating layer INS2 may be selected from organic insulating materials (e.g., polyesters, polyolefins, polypropylenes, polycarbonates, polyalkylene oxides, polystyrenes, polyethers, polyketones, polyols, polyaldehydes, or other suitable materials, or combinations thereof) or inorganic insulating materials (e.g., silicon nitride, silicon oxide, silicon carbide, or aluminum oxide). The materials of the first electrode layer EL1, the second electrode layer EL2, and the third electrode layer EL3 may be selected from metal oxides (e.g., indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, aluminum tin oxide, aluminum zinc oxide, or other suitable oxides, or a stacked layer of at least two of the foregoing), metals, alloys, nitrides of metal materials, oxides of metal materials, oxynitrides of metal materials, or other suitable materials, or stacked layers of metal materials and other conductive materials. The material of the semiconductor layer SCL may be selected from amorphous silicon semiconductor, monocrystalline silicon semiconductor, polycrystalline silicon semiconductor, or metal oxide semiconductor.

Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a structural layer of another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 6, unlike the structural layer 150A of fig. 5, the structural layer 150B of the present embodiment further includes a coating layer OC disposed on the third electrode layer EL3, and the plurality of micro grooves 155B are formed by the coating layer OC. The material of the coating layer OC can be selected from organic resin materials such as polysiloxane series, silicone series or acryl series.

For example, in the present embodiment, the first electrode layer EL1 and the scan line and the gate electrode of the active device may be the same layer, the second electrode layer EL2 and the source electrode and the drain electrode of the data line and the active device may be the same layer, and the third electrode layer EL3 and the pixel electrode may be the same layer, but not limited thereto. That is, the structure layer of the present invention can be made of the film layers formed by the different elements in the display area DA without additional materials or process steps.

Fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display panel according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 7, the display panel 10B of the present embodiment is different from the display panel 10A of fig. 4 in that: the structure layer 150 of the display panel 10A of the present embodiment is covered with the conductive layer 170, and the conductive layer 170 extends into the plurality of micro grooves 155 of the structure layer 150.

In detail, the conductive layer 170 has a side surface portion 171 and a bottom surface portion 173 that cover the groove side surface 150ss and the groove bottom surface 150bs, respectively. Since the arrangement of the micro grooves 155 in the present embodiment is similar to that of the micro grooves 155 in fig. 3, please refer to the relevant paragraphs of the foregoing embodiment for detailed description, and the detailed description is omitted here. Therefore, even if the structure layer 150 of the present embodiment is covered with a conductive layer 170, it still has a hydrophobic property to the alignment layer 180 in the non-display area NDA. That is, although the partial alignment layer 180 of the present embodiment covers the bottom portion 173 of the conductive layer 170 in the adjacent micro grooves 155a and 155b closest to the display area DA, the side portions 171 of the conductive layer 170 in the micro grooves 155a and 155b are exposed.

On the other hand, the display panel 10B may further optionally include a plurality of microconductors 190 dispersedly disposed in the sealing layer 250A. The micro-conductors 190 are, for example, metal particles, and the material thereof includes gold or silver. By disposing the microconductors 190 and the conductive layer 170, an electrode layer (not shown) on the second substrate 120 can be electrically connected to the outside through a peripheral circuit on the first substrate 110, but is not limited thereto.

Fig. 8 is a schematic top view of a partial area of a display panel according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 is a schematic plan view of a partial area of a display panel according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 10 is a schematic plan view of a partial area of a display panel according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 8, the display panel 10C of the present embodiment is different from the display panel 10 of fig. 2 in that: the arrangement of the micro grooves is different. Specifically, the opening width of the openings OP-a of each of the plurality of micro grooves 155C of the structural layer 150C of the display panel 10C decreases with distance from the display area DA, but is not limited thereto. Referring to fig. 9, in another embodiment, the opening width of the openings OP-B of each of the plurality of micro grooves 155D of the structural layer 150D of the display panel 10D may also increase with distance from the display area DA.

Referring to fig. 10, in another embodiment, the micro grooves 155E of the structural layer 150E of the display panel 10E may have different opening widths. For example, the plurality of micro grooves 155E may include a plurality of first micro grooves 155-1 and a plurality of second micro grooves 155-2 alternately arranged in a direction away from the display area DA (e.g., direction X). The structured surface 150s of the structured layer 150E has a first opening OP1 defining a first micro-groove 155-1 and a second opening OP2 defining a second micro-groove 155-2. The first and second openings OP1 and OP2 have first and second opening widths W1 and W2, respectively, along the arrangement direction, and the first opening width W1 is different from the second opening width W2. In the present embodiment, the first opening width W1 may be greater than the second opening width W2, but is not limited thereto.

From another point of view, the structured surface 150s of the structured layer 150E may be segmented into two cell surfaces, such as a first cell surface US1 and a second cell surface US2, in the microstructure area MSZ. Wherein the first micro groove 155-1 is disposed at the geometric center GC1 of the first unit surface US1, and the second micro groove 155-2 is disposed at the geometric center GC2 of the second unit surface US2. Similar to the foregoing embodiment, the surface area B1 of the first unit surface US1, the open area B2 of the first opening OP1, the surface area C1 of the second unit surface US2, and the open area C2 of the second opening OP2 of the structural layer 150E of the present embodiment satisfy the following relationship: B1/(B1+B2) 0.2.ltoreq.0.4 and C1/(C1+C2) 0.2.ltoreq.0.4, the hydrophobic property of the structural layer 150E on the alignment layer 180 in the microstructure area MSZ can be effectively improved.

In summary, in the display panel according to an embodiment of the invention, the structure layer is provided with a plurality of micro-grooves recessed from the surface of the structure in the non-display area. The alignment layer for orienting the display medium layer extends from the display area to the non-display area and ends in the area where the micro grooves are provided. Therefore, the coating elasticity of the alignment layer can be increased, and the production yield of the display panel can be improved.

Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical solution of the present invention, and not for limiting the same; although the invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that: the technical scheme described in the foregoing embodiments can be modified or some or all of the technical features thereof can be replaced by equivalents; such modifications and substitutions do not depart from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A display panel, comprising:

the display device comprises a first substrate, a second substrate and a first display unit, wherein the first substrate is provided with a display area and a non-display area outside the display area;

a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate;

the display medium layer is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate;

the structure layer is arranged on the first substrate, and a plurality of micro grooves are formed in the non-display area and are recessed from the structure surface of the structure layer respectively;

an alignment layer disposed between the display medium layer and the first substrate, the alignment layer covering the display region and extending to the non-display region, the alignment layer covering a portion of the structure surface and overlapping a portion of the plurality of micro grooves, the alignment layer including a first portion and a second portion covering the structure surface, the first portion being located between one of the plurality of micro grooves closest to the display region and the display region, the second portion being located between adjacent two of the plurality of micro grooves, wherein the first portion and the second portion have a first film thickness and a second film thickness, respectively, along a normal direction of the structure surface, and the second film thickness is smaller than the first film thickness; and

and the sealing layer is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate and is positioned in the non-display area, and the sealing layer is overlapped with at least part of the micro grooves.

2. The display panel of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the second film thickness to the first film thickness is less than 0.5.

3. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein the structure surface of the structure layer has a plurality of unit surfaces, the plurality of micro grooves are respectively located at geometric centers of the plurality of unit surfaces, the plurality of unit surfaces respectively have a plurality of openings defining the plurality of micro grooves, any one of the plurality of unit surfaces has a surface area A1, one of the plurality of openings corresponding to the any one of the plurality of unit surfaces has an opening area A2, and the display panel satisfies the following relationship: A1/(A1+A2) is less than or equal to 0.2 and less than or equal to 0.4.

4. The display panel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of micro grooves are arranged at a first pitch P along a first direction, any of the plurality of micro grooves has an aperture width W at the structured surface and along the first direction and a groove depth D along a normal direction of the structured surface, and the display panel satisfies the following relationship: D/(P-W) >0.7.

5. The display panel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of micro grooves are structurally separate from each other.

6. The display panel of claim 1, wherein the structural layer has a groove side and a groove bottom defining each of the plurality of micro grooves, the groove side connecting the structural surface and the groove bottom, wherein the alignment layer covers the groove bottom of a first micro groove of the plurality of micro grooves closest to the display area and exposes the groove side of the first micro groove.

7. The display panel according to claim 6, wherein the sealing layer extends to the first micro groove and contacts a portion of the groove side of the first micro groove exposed by the alignment layer.

8. The display panel of claim 1, wherein the structured surface of the structured layer has a plurality of openings defining the plurality of micro grooves, and wherein the respective opening widths of the plurality of openings decrease or increase as one moves away from the display area.

9. The display panel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of micro grooves includes a plurality of first micro grooves and a plurality of second micro grooves alternately arranged in a direction away from the display area, the structure surface of the structure layer has a first opening defining each of the plurality of first micro grooves and a second opening defining each of the plurality of second micro grooves, the first opening and the second opening have a first opening width and a second opening width, respectively, in an arrangement direction, and the first opening width is different from the second opening width.

10. The display panel of claim 1, further comprising:

the structure layer is provided with a groove side surface and a groove bottom surface which define each of the plurality of micro grooves, the groove side surface is connected with the structure surface and the groove bottom surface, the conductive layer is provided with a side surface part and a bottom surface part which cover the groove side surface and the groove bottom surface respectively, and the alignment layer covers the bottom surface part of the conductive layer in the first micro groove closest to the display area in the plurality of micro grooves and exposes part of the side surface part of the conductive layer in the first micro groove.