CN117496840A

CN117496840A - Display panel, preparation method of display panel and display device

Info

Publication number: CN117496840A
Application number: CN202311617245.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 卢玉群; 秦少杰; 李泽亮; 鲍建东; 侯瑞
Original assignee: BOE Technology Group Co Ltd; Chengdu BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: BOE Technology Group Co Ltd; Chengdu BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2023-11-29
Filing date: 2023-11-29
Publication date: 2024-02-02

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a display panel, a preparation method of the display panel and a display device, which comprise the following steps: an operable region, an edge pixel region, and a non-display region, the edge pixel region being between the non-display region and the operable region; the color filter layer in the edge pixel area in the direction parallel to the display panel has the same thickness as the color filter layer in the operable area and is flush in height, so that the problem of abnormal brightness around the screen caused by uneven film thickness of the color filter layer can be solved to a certain extent, and the display panel has a good display effect.

Description

Display panel, preparation method of display panel and display device

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of display devices, and in particular, to a display panel, a method for manufacturing the display panel, and a display device.

Background

The display panel adopting the technology of the COE (Color On Encapsulation, color film is located on the encapsulation layer) is called as the COE panel, at present, in the field of display panels, the COE technology is greatly applied, but in the bright screen state of the COE panel, the peripheral edge can have the problem of higher brightness, because the film thickness of the IJP (Ink Jet Printing) is uneven, the thickness of the CF (Color Filter) is uneven, thus the light efficiency difference is caused, and the display anomaly with the periphery shining is formed. Therefore, a method for solving abnormal brightness around the screen is needed.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the embodiment of the application is to provide a display panel, a preparation method of the display panel and a display device, so as to relieve abnormal brightness of the periphery of a screen. The specific technical scheme is as follows:

in a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a display panel, including:

an operable region, an edge pixel region, and a non-display region, the edge pixel region being between the non-display region and the operable region;

the color filter layer in the edge pixel region in a direction parallel to the display panel is the same thickness and is highly planar with the color filter layer in the operable region.

In one possible embodiment, the display panel includes a substrate layer, a first planarization layer, a second planarization layer, a third planarization layer, a pixel definition layer, an electroluminescent layer, a first inorganic encapsulation layer, an inkjet printing layer, a second inorganic encapsulation layer, a touch insulation layer, a touch protection layer, an encapsulation layer;

the first flat layer is arranged on the substrate layer, the second flat layer is arranged on one side of the first flat layer away from the substrate layer, the third flat layer is arranged on one side of the second flat layer away from the substrate layer, the pixel definition layer is arranged on one side of the third flat layer away from the substrate layer, the electroluminescent layer is arranged on one side of the pixel definition layer away from the substrate layer, the first inorganic packaging layer is arranged on one side of the electroluminescent layer away from the substrate layer, the ink-jet printing layer is arranged on one side of the first inorganic packaging layer away from the substrate layer, the second inorganic packaging layer is arranged on one side of the ink-jet printing layer away from the substrate layer, the touch insulation layer is arranged on one side of the second inorganic packaging layer away from the substrate layer, the touch protection layer is arranged on one side of the touch insulation layer, and the packaging layer is arranged on the touch protection layer.

In one possible embodiment, there is at least one film layer between the inkjet printing layer and the color filter layer, which film layer is highly flush in a direction away from the substrate layer and parallel to the display panel in the operable region and the edge pixel region.

In one possible embodiment, in the operable region and the edge pixel region, the touch protection layer is level and different in thickness on a side away from the base layer.

In one possible implementation, in the operable region and the edge pixel region, the touch insulating layer is level in height and different in thickness on a side away from the base layer;

the touch protection layer is flush in height at one side far away from the basal layer and the thickness is the same.

In one possible embodiment, in the operable region and the edge pixel region, the second inorganic encapsulation layer is highly flush and of different thickness on a side remote from the base layer;

the touch protection layer is flush in height and the same in thickness at one side far away from the basal layer;

the touch insulating layer is flush in height at one side far away from the basal layer and the thickness is the same.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for manufacturing a display panel, including:

obtaining a prefabricated film layer, wherein the prefabricated film layer comprises a basal layer, a first flat layer, a second flat layer, a third flat layer, a pixel definition layer, an electroluminescent layer, a first inorganic packaging layer and an ink-jet printing layer;

preparing a second inorganic packaging layer on one side of the ink-jet printing layer far away from the substrate layer, preparing a touch insulating layer on one side of the second inorganic packaging layer far away from the substrate layer, and preparing a touch protective layer on one side of the touch insulating layer far away from the substrate layer, wherein at least one film layer of the second inorganic packaging layer, the touch insulating layer and the touch protective layer is flush with each other in height after being prepared in a direction parallel to the display panel by a halftone mask technology; the color filter layers on the touch protection layer have the same thickness and the same height in the direction parallel to the display panel;

and continuing the preparation of the subsequent process to obtain the display panel.

In one possible implementation manner, the preparing a second inorganic encapsulation layer on a side of the inkjet printing layer away from the substrate layer, preparing a touch insulation layer on a side of the second inorganic encapsulation layer away from the substrate layer, and preparing a touch protection layer on a side of the touch insulation layer away from the substrate layer includes:

Preparing a second inorganic packaging layer on the ink-jet printing layer, preparing a touch insulating layer on the second inorganic packaging layer, and preparing a touch protective layer on the touch insulating layer;

and etching one side, far away from the substrate layer, of the touch protection layer by using the halftone mask plate to obtain the touch protection layer with the same height.

In one possible implementation manner, the halftone mask comprises an opaque film and a partially transparent film, and the etching the side, away from the substrate layer, of the touch protection layer by using the halftone mask comprises:

etching a flat area of one side, far away from the substrate layer, of the touch protection layer by using the light-tight film;

and etching the raised area on one side of the touch protection layer far away from the substrate layer by utilizing the part of the light-transmitting film.

In one possible implementation manner, the part of the light-transmitting film comprises a first light-transmitting film, a second light-transmitting film and a third light-transmitting film, the light transmittance of the first light-transmitting film, the light transmittance of the second light-transmitting film and the light transmittance of the third light-transmitting film are different, and the convex area of the touch protection layer comprises a first touch protection layer convex subarea, a second touch protection layer convex subarea and a third touch protection layer convex subarea; the etching the raised area on the side, far away from the substrate layer, of the touch protection layer by using the part of light-transmitting film comprises the following steps:

Etching the convex subarea of the first touch protection layer by using the first light-transmitting film;

etching the convex subarea of the second touch protection layer by using the second light-transmitting film;

and etching the protruding subarea of the third touch protection layer by using the third light-transmitting film.

In one possible implementation, the pre-prepared film layer includes an operable area, an edge pixel area and a non-display area, the side of the partially transparent film near the center of the display panel is 2mm away from the first dam of the non-display area, and the side of the partially transparent film far away from the center of the display panel is 10 μm away from the first column of pixels of the edge pixel area; the distance between one side of the part of the light-transmitting film far away from the center of the display panel and the center of the display panel is larger than the distance between the first column of pixels of the edge pixel area and the center of the display panel, and the center of the display panel is located in the operable area.

Preparing a second inorganic packaging layer on the ink-jet printing layer, and preparing a touch insulating layer on the second inorganic packaging layer;

etching one side, far away from the substrate layer, of the touch insulating layer by using a halftone mask plate to obtain a touch insulating layer with a flush height;

and preparing the touch protection layer on the touch insulation layer with the same height.

In one possible implementation manner, the halftone mask includes an opaque film and a partially transparent film, and the etching the side of the touch insulation layer away from the substrate layer by using the halftone mask includes:

etching a flat area of one side, far away from the substrate layer, of the touch insulating layer by using the opaque film;

and etching the raised area on one side of the touch insulating layer far away from the substrate layer by utilizing the part of the light-transmitting film.

In one possible implementation manner, the part of the light-transmitting film comprises a first light-transmitting film, a second light-transmitting film and a third light-transmitting film, the light transmittance of the first light-transmitting film, the light transmittance of the second light-transmitting film and the light transmittance of the third light-transmitting film are different, and the convex area of the touch insulation protection layer comprises a first touch insulation layer convex subarea, a second touch insulation layer convex subarea and a third touch insulation layer convex subarea; the etching the raised area on one side of the touch insulating layer away from the substrate layer by using the partial light-transmitting film comprises the following steps:

Etching the first touch insulating layer bulge subarea by utilizing the first light-transmitting film;

etching the second touch insulating layer bulge subareas by using the second light-transmitting film;

and etching the protruding subarea of the third touch insulating layer by using the third light-transmitting film.

preparing a second inorganic encapsulation layer on the inkjet printing layer;

etching one side, far away from the substrate layer, of the second inorganic packaging layer by utilizing a half-tone mask plate to obtain a second inorganic packaging layer with a flush height;

and preparing the touch insulating layer on the second inorganic packaging layer with the same height, and preparing the touch protective layer on the touch insulating layer.

In one possible embodiment, the halftone mask includes an opaque film and a partially transparent film, and etching a side of the second inorganic encapsulation layer away from the substrate layer using the halftone mask includes:

Etching a flat area of one side of the second inorganic packaging layer far away from the substrate layer by using the light-tight film;

and etching the raised area on one side of the second inorganic packaging layer away from the substrate layer by utilizing the part of the light-transmitting film.

In one possible embodiment, the partial light-transmitting film includes a first light-transmitting film, a second light-transmitting film, and a third light-transmitting film, the light transmittances of the first light-transmitting film, the second light-transmitting film, and the third light-transmitting film are different, and the convex region of the second inorganic encapsulation layer includes a first convex subregion of the second inorganic encapsulation layer, a second convex subregion of the second inorganic encapsulation layer, and a third convex subregion of the second inorganic encapsulation layer; the etching the raised area of the side, far away from the substrate layer, of the second inorganic packaging layer by using the partial light-transmitting film comprises the following steps:

etching the first bulge subarea of the second inorganic packaging layer by utilizing the first light-transmitting film;

etching the second convex subarea of the second inorganic packaging layer by using the second light-transmitting film;

and etching the third protrusion subarea of the second inorganic packaging layer by using the third light-transmitting film.

In a third aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide a display device, where the display device includes a display panel according to any one of the present application.

The beneficial effects of the embodiment of the application are that:

the display panel provided by the embodiment of the application comprises: an operable region, an edge pixel region, and a non-display region, the edge pixel region being between the non-display region and the operable region; the color filter layer in the edge pixel area in the direction parallel to the display panel has the same thickness as the color filter layer in the operable area and is flush with the color filter layer in the operable area, so that the problem of abnormal brightness around the screen caused by uneven film thickness of the color filter layer can be fundamentally solved, and the display panel has a good display effect.

Of course, not all of the above-described advantages need be achieved simultaneously in practicing any one of the products or methods of the present application.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following description will briefly introduce the drawings that are required to be used in the embodiments or the description of the prior art, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and other embodiments may also be obtained according to these drawings to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional COE panel structure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a side edge of the ink jet print layer remote from the substrate layer;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the brightness of four sides of a screen;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 5 is a schematic flow chart of a method for manufacturing a display panel according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the result of etching the side of the TOC of the touch protection layer away from the substrate layer using a halftone mask;

FIG. 7 is a first schematic diagram of etching a side of the TOC of the touch protection layer away from the underlayer using a halftone mask;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating etching of a side of a TOC of a touch protection layer away from a substrate layer using a conventional photomask;

FIG. 9 is a second schematic diagram of etching a side of the TOC of the touch protection layer away from the underlayer using a halftone mask;

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a light transmissive film of a halftone mask in positional relationship with a COE panel;

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of a portion of a light transmissive film of a halftone mask in positional relationship to a COE panel;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the result of etching a side of the touch insulation layer TLD away from the substrate layer using a halftone mask;

FIG. 13 is a first schematic diagram of etching a side of the touch insulation layer TLD away from the substrate layer using a halftone mask;

FIG. 14 is a second schematic diagram of etching a side of the touch insulation layer TLD away from the substrate layer using a halftone mask;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the result of etching the side of the second inorganic encapsulation layer CVD2 away from the substrate layer using a halftone mask;

FIG. 16 is a first schematic illustration of etching a side of the second inorganic encapsulation layer CVD2 away from the substrate layer using a halftone mask;

fig. 17 is a second schematic diagram of etching a side of the second inorganic encapsulation layer CVD2 away from the base layer using a halftone mask.

Detailed Description

The following description of the embodiments of the present application will be made clearly and fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which it is evident that the embodiments described are only some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art would be able to obtain all other embodiments based on the disclosure herein, which are within the scope of the disclosure herein.

The display panel adopting the technology of COE (Color On Encapsulation, color film is located on the packaging layer) is called as a COE panel, at present, in the field of display panels, the COE technology is greatly applied, but in the bright screen state of the COE panel, the peripheral edge can have the problem of higher brightness, and the reason for the problem is that the thickness of the ink-jet printing layer IJP is uneven, so that the thickness of the color filter CF is uneven, thereby generating light efficiency difference and forming peripheral brightness abnormality. Therefore, a method for solving abnormal brightness around the screen is needed.

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a structural design of a current COE panel, and it can be seen that the IJP layer is uneven on a side far from the Substrate layer, such as the IJP Edge Top, is present at the Edge pixels far from the Substrate layer, the TOC of the pixel area is uneven, resulting in a height difference between the CF, and the thickness of the color filter layer CF at the protrusions deviates from the thickness of the color filter layer at the operable area.

As can be seen from fig. 2, the reason for the bright and dark areas is: the color filter layer CF in the IJP convex area (i.e., IJP Edge Top) flows to both sides, so that CF stacks occur on both sides, resulting in thicker CF and darkened areas; whereas the color filter layer CF of the IJP bump area is thinner and a bright area appears. Where AA (Active Area) denotes an operable region, i.e., a light emitting region, BP (Back Plate) denotes a back plate, and Dam1 denotes a Dam structure 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the brightness around the screen, and AA hole refers to the under-screen image capturing area.

In order to alleviate the problem of abnormal brightness around the screen, in a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a display panel, see fig. 4, including:

an operable region 101, an edge pixel region 102, and a non-display region 103, the edge pixel region 102 being between the non-display region 103 and the operable region 101.

The operable area refers to the AA (Active Area) area of the screen, for example, as shown in fig. 3, and the AA area of the cell phone screen is the black portion of the cell phone screen. The operable area and the edge pixel area may both belong to a display area, wherein the edge pixel area is a peripheral edge portion of the display area of the screen, and is located between the non-display area and the operable area.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, for ease of understanding, the operable area refers to the AA (Active Area) area in the screen, and the orthographic projection of the touch layer (e.g., TMB or TMA) near the Substrate layer Substrate edge on the Substrate layer Substrate may be taken as the boundary of the operable area 101 and the edge pixel area 102; the side of the edge pixel region 102 near the operable region may be bounded by an orthographic projection of a touch layer (e.g., TMB or TMA) near the Substrate layer Substrate edge on the Substrate layer Substrate, and the side of the edge pixel region 102 near the Substrate layer Substrate edge may be bounded by any position between a pixel start column (or first pixel start column) projection and a first anode edge projection, where the first pixel start column projection is an orthographic projection of a pixel start column near the Substrate layer Substrate edge (e.g., a signal line corresponding to a pixel circuit near the Substrate layer Substrate edge, such as VDD, data, etc. formed by SD1 or SD2 layers); the first anode edge is projected as an orthographic projection of the anode layer edge on the Substrate layer Substrate near the Substrate edge side. The non-display area 103 may include a portion from the boundary of the edge pixel area 102 to the Substrate layer Substrate edge.

It will of course be appreciated that the edge pixel area 102 or pixel start column may also be bounded by an orthographic projection of the boundary of the pixel definition layer PDL onto the Substrate layer Substrate.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, in the direction parallel to the display panel, the region from the orthographic projection of the touch layer (e.g., TMB) near the edge of the base layer Substrate onto the base layer Substrate to the orthographic projection of the boundary of the pixel definition layer PDL onto the base layer Substrate includes a color filter layer that is the same thickness and is highly level as the color filter layer in the operable region. Since the difference in the height of the segments in the boundary region of the pixel definition layer PDL easily causes the uneven height of the subsequent film layer, the color filter layer in this region has the same thickness as the color filter layer in the operable region and is flush in height, which is beneficial to alleviating darkening or brightening around.

The color filter layer on the operable area has no or small height difference, and the operable area has good luminescence and no problem of bright luminescence or dark luminescence. Therefore, when the color filter layer in the edge pixel region in the direction parallel to the display panel is the same in thickness as the color filter layer in the operable region and is highly flush, it is indicated that the edge pixel region emits light as well as the operable region.

The color filter layer CF may be a red filter layer, a green filter layer, or a blue filter layer.

The display panel provided by the embodiment of the application comprises: an operable region, an edge pixel region, and a non-display region, the edge pixel region being between the non-display region and the operable region; the color filter layer in the edge pixel area in the direction parallel to the display panel has the same thickness as the color filter layer in the operable area and is flush in height, so that the problem of abnormal brightness around the screen caused by uneven film thickness of the color filter layer can be solved to a certain extent, and the display panel has a good display effect. In addition, the scheme does not need to add a new mask, the process is simple, and the implementation difficulty is low.

In one example, the display panel includes a Substrate layer Substrate, a first flat layer PLN1, a second flat layer PLN2, a third flat layer PLN3, a pixel definition layer PDL, an electroluminescent layer EL Open, a first inorganic encapsulation layer CVD1, an inkjet printing layer IJP, a second inorganic encapsulation layer CVD2, a touch insulation layer TLD, a touch protection layer TOC, and an encapsulation layer COC;

The display panel further comprises a touch control layer TMB (of course TMA may also be included), an Anode, a Cathode, a power supply voltage Cathode VSS, a second Gate electrode Gate2, a first source/drain electrode SD1, a second source/drain electrode SD2 including VSS (SD 1) of SD1 wiring, VSS (SD 2) of SD2 wiring, a first Dam1, a second Dam2, a Crack Dam, a barrier layer TBL of touch technology; TBL is the first film layer of FMLOC (functional metal layer on cell, flexible multilayer structure).

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 4, the color filter layer may continuously extend from the operable region 101 to the non-display region 103, be truncated at a side of the first Dam1 near the operable region, and be protected by thickening the encapsulation layer COC at a side of the first Dam1 near the edge of the substrate layer, so as to prevent the color filter layer from being peeled off at the edge pixel region 102 and also prevent water sample from invading. For example: the thickness of the encapsulation layer COC from the side of the first Dam1 near the operable region 101 to the edge of the substrate layer is greater than the thickness of the encapsulation layer COC of the operable region 101.

In one example, there is at least one film layer between the ink jet print layer and the color filter layer, the film layer being highly flush in a direction parallel to the display panel on a side away from the base layer in the operable region and the edge pixel region.

The second inorganic packaging layer, the touch insulating layer and the touch protective layer are arranged between the ink-jet printing layer and the color filter layer, and can be at least one film layer of the second inorganic packaging layer, the touch insulating layer and the touch protective layer, and the second inorganic packaging layer, the touch insulating layer and the touch protective layer are highly flush in the direction away from one side of the substrate layer and parallel to the display panel. The following description will be made taking, as an example, a case where one of the second inorganic encapsulation layer, the touch insulating layer, and the touch protection layer is highly aligned in a direction parallel to the display panel and away from the substrate layer:

for example, when the second inorganic encapsulation layer is in the operable area and the edge pixel area, the second inorganic encapsulation layer is far away from the substrate layer and is highly flush in the direction parallel to the display panel, the touch insulating layer and the touch protective layer are highly flush in the operable area and the edge pixel area; therefore, the thickness of the color filter layer prepared on the touch protection layer is kept consistent, so that the light-emitting brightness of the edge pixel area is consistent with that of the operable area. When the touch insulating layer is in the operable area and the edge pixel area, the touch insulating layer is far away from one side of the substrate layer and is parallel to the display panel, and the prepared touch protective layer is in the operable area and the edge pixel area; therefore, the thickness of the color filter layer prepared on the touch protection layer is kept consistent, so that the light-emitting brightness of the edge pixel area is consistent with that of the operable area. When the touch protection layer is in the operable area and the edge pixel area, the touch protection layer is far away from one side of the substrate layer and is parallel to the display panel, and the thickness of the prepared color filter layer is consistent, so that the light-emitting brightness of the edge pixel area is consistent with that of the operable area.

Of course, two or three film layers of the second inorganic encapsulation layer, the touch insulating layer and the touch protective layer may be highly aligned in a direction parallel to the display panel and away from the substrate layer.

In one example, the touch protection layer is level at a side far from the substrate layer and has different thicknesses in the operable region and the edge pixel region.

In this case, the touch protection layer is highly flush in the direction parallel to the display panel, away from the substrate layer, in the operable region and the edge pixel region.

In one example, in the operable region and the edge pixel region, the touch insulating layer is level at a side far from the substrate layer and has different thicknesses;

In this case, the touch insulating layer is highly flush in the direction parallel to the display panel on the side away from the base layer in the operable region and the edge pixel region. Because the touch insulating layer keeps the height level, the touch protective layer prepared on the touch insulating layer is level at the side far away from the basal layer, and the thickness is the same.

In one example, the second inorganic encapsulation layer is level in height and different in thickness on a side away from the base layer in the operable region and the edge pixel region;

In this case, the second inorganic encapsulation layer is highly flush in the direction parallel to the display panel on the side away from the base layer in the operable region and the edge pixel region. Because the second inorganic packaging layer keeps the height flush, the touch insulating layer and the touch protective layer which are prepared on the second inorganic packaging layer are just the same in thickness and are flush at the side far away from the basal layer.

In a second aspect, referring to fig. 5, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for manufacturing a display panel, including:

s201, obtaining a pre-prepared film layer.

The prefabricated film layer comprises a basal layer, a first flat layer, a second flat layer, a third flat layer, a pixel definition layer, an electroluminescent layer, a first inorganic packaging layer and an ink-jet printing layer. The pre-prepared film layer is a film layer in which a base layer, a first flat layer, a second flat layer, a third flat layer, a pixel definition layer, an electroluminescent layer, a first inorganic encapsulation layer, and an inkjet printing layer have been prepared.

S202, preparing a second inorganic packaging layer on one side, far away from the substrate layer, of the ink-jet printing layer, preparing a touch insulating layer on one side, far away from the substrate layer, of the second inorganic packaging layer, and preparing a touch protective layer on one side, far away from the substrate layer, of the touch insulating layer.

The second inorganic packaging layer, the touch insulating layer and the touch protective layer are at least one film layer, and the prepared layers are parallel to the display panel by a half-tone mask technology and are level; the color filter layers on the touch protection layer have the same thickness and the same height in the direction parallel to the display panel. And (3) starting from the ink-jet printing layer, sequentially preparing a second inorganic packaging layer, a touch insulating layer, a touch protective layer and a color filter layer from bottom to top. Wherein the ink jet printed layer is not flat.

And S203, continuing the preparation of the subsequent process to obtain the display panel.

In one example, the preparing a second inorganic encapsulation layer on a side of the inkjet printing layer away from the substrate layer, preparing a touch insulation layer on a side of the second inorganic encapsulation layer away from the substrate layer, and preparing a touch protection layer on a side of the touch insulation layer away from the substrate layer, includes:

Because the ink-jet printing layer is uneven, the second inorganic packaging layer, the touch insulating layer and the touch protective layer which are prepared on the basis of the ink-jet printing layer are uneven. Therefore, the half-tone mask plate is utilized to etch one side of the touch protection layer far away from the substrate layer, so that the problem of uneven touch protection layer is solved, and the touch protection layer with the same height can be obtained. As a result of etching the side of the touch protection layer away from the substrate layer using the halftone mask, as shown in fig. 6, it can be seen that the upper edge of the touch protection layer TOC is flat, and the color filter layer CF prepared thereon also becomes uniform in film thickness and is highly flat. The TOC of the pixel area is smooth in topography, and the pixel edge area and the AA area have no CF height difference.

In one example, referring to fig. 7, the halftone mask includes an opaque film and a partially transparent film, and etching, by using the halftone mask, a side of the touch protection layer away from the substrate layer includes:

and etching the flat area of one side, far away from the substrate layer, of the touch protection layer by using the light-tight film.

The leveling area of one side of the touch protection layer, which is far away from the substrate layer, is a film layer corresponding to the touch protection layer in the operable area, and the film layers on the operable area are all the same in thickness and are flush in height, so that exposure treatment on the film layer on the operable area is not needed, and when illumination is received, an opaque film with the light transmittance of 0 is selected to etch the leveling area of the touch protection layer.

The protruding area of the side of the touch protection layer far away from the substrate layer is a film layer corresponding to the touch protection layer in the edge pixel area, and the protruding area of the touch protection layer can cause the color filter layer CF prepared on the protruding area to have film thickness difference, specifically comprising: the thickness of the color filter layer in the protruding area of the touch protection layer is smaller than that in the operable area, and the height of the color filter layer in the protruding area of the touch protection layer is also higher than that in the operable area.

When receiving illumination, adopt the part printing opacity membrane that has certain luminousness to etch the protruding region of the one side of touch-control protective layer that is kept away from the stratum basale, can improve the problem that touch-control protective layer highly uneven in operable region and marginal pixel region for the touch-control protective layer is at marginal pixel region and at operable region same level, does not have the difference in height, thereby the color filter layer CF that makes touch-control protective layer top preparation is the same and the height parallel and level in marginal pixel region and operable region thick. The light intensity after passing through the opaque film is smaller than the light intensity after passing through a part of the light-transmitting film. The height difference between the edge pixel region and the operable region of the color filter layer CF can be reduced from 0.85 μm to 0.3 μm. In the prior art, as shown in fig. 8, the topography of the TOC is still raised, and the TOC has a height difference between the edge pixel area and the operable area.

In one example, referring to fig. 9, the part of the light-transmitting films include a first light-transmitting film, a second light-transmitting film and a third light-transmitting film, the light transmittances of the first light-transmitting film, the second light-transmitting film and the third light-transmitting film are different, and the convex area of the touch protection layer includes a first convex sub-area of the touch protection layer, a second convex sub-area of the touch protection layer and a third convex sub-area of the touch protection layer; the etching the raised area on the side, far away from the substrate layer, of the touch protection layer by using the part of light-transmitting film comprises the following steps:

Aiming at the convex area of the touch protection layer, a multi-thickness exposure scheme is adopted. Dividing the protruding area of the touch protection layer into three parts, namely a first protruding sub-area of the touch protection layer, a second protruding sub-area of the touch protection layer and a third protruding sub-area of the touch protection layer, etching different protruding sub-areas by using light-transmitting films with different light-transmitting rates, wherein the light-transmitting rate of the first light-transmitting film is 30%, namely, part of light-transmitting rate A (Tr% 30) in the drawing, the light-transmitting rate of the second light-transmitting film is 70%, namely, part of light-transmitting rate B (Tr 70%) in the drawing, the light-transmitting rate of the third light-transmitting film is 20%, namely, part of light-transmitting rate C (Tr 20%) in the drawing, namely, light-transmitting films are not transparent (Tr 0%), and one effect which can be finally achieved is that: the height of the touch protection layer on the edge pixel area is level with the height on the operable area.

In one example, the pre-prepared film layer comprises an operable area, an edge pixel area and a non-display area, wherein one side of the partially transparent film, which is close to the center of the display panel, is 2mm away from the first dam of the non-display area, and one side of the partially transparent film, which is far away from the center of the display panel, is 10 μm away from the first column of pixels of the edge pixel area; the distance between the side of the part of the light-transmitting film far away from the center of the display panel and the center of the display panel is larger than that between the first column of pixels of the edge pixel area and the center of the display panel, and the center of the display panel is positioned in the operable area

The operable area refers to the AA (Active Area) area in the screen, for example, the AA area of the cell phone screen is a black part in the cell phone screen, and the user is only active when the AA area is operated and inactive when the other areas are operated. The edge pixel area is the peripheral edge area of the screen. Fig. 10 and 11 illustrate the positional relationship of the halftone mask by taking the TOC process of the right side edge of the screen as an example, where a portion of the light-transmitting film of the halftone mask is 2mm from the first dam of the non-display area near the center of the display panel, that is, 2mm from the first dam of the non-display area to the left side of the portion of the light-transmitting film, and a portion of the light-transmitting film of the halftone mask is 10 μm from the first column of pixels of the edge pixel area, that is, 10 μm from the first column of pixels of the edge pixel area to the right side of the portion of the light-transmitting film, and the first column of pixels of the edge pixel area refers to the pixel start column, and it is seen that the halftone mask spans the operable area and the edge pixel area, where the opaque film of the halftone mask is used to process the operable area and the portion of the light-transmitting film is used to process the edge pixel area.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 9, the partially transparent film regions may be symmetrically arranged in the pixel start columns to better control the exposure area of the halftone reticle.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 9, a multi-thickness exposure scheme is used for the raised areas of the touch protection layer. Dividing a convex area of the touch protection layer into three parts, namely a first touch protection layer convex sub-area, a second touch protection layer convex sub-area and a third touch protection layer convex sub-area, etching different convex sub-areas by using light-transmitting films with different light-transmitting rates, wherein the light-transmitting rate of the first light-transmitting film is 30%, the light-transmitting rate of the second light-transmitting film is 70%, and the light-transmitting rate of the third light-transmitting film is 20%, and sequentially arranging the first light-transmitting film, the second light-transmitting film and the third light-transmitting film from the operable area 101 to the non-display area 103; the area of the second light-transmitting film is larger than that of the first light-transmitting film, and the areas of the first light-transmitting film and the second light-transmitting film are both larger than that of the third light-transmitting film. One effect that can be achieved finally is: the height of the touch protection layer on the edge pixel area is level with the height on the operable area.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 9, a multi-thickness exposure scheme is used for the raised areas of the touch protection layer. Dividing a convex area of the touch protection layer into three parts, namely a first touch protection layer convex sub-area, a second touch protection layer convex sub-area and a third touch protection layer convex sub-area, etching different convex sub-areas by using light-transmitting films with different light-transmitting rates, wherein the light-transmitting rate of the first light-transmitting film is 30%, the light-transmitting rate of the second light-transmitting film is 70%, and the light-transmitting rate of the third light-transmitting film is 20%, and sequentially arranging the first light-transmitting film, the second light-transmitting film and the third light-transmitting film from the operable area 101 to the non-display area 103; the area of the second light-transmitting film is larger than that of the first light-transmitting film, the areas of the first light-transmitting film and the second light-transmitting film are both larger than that of the third light-transmitting film (the area of the first light-transmitting film is slightly larger than that of the third light-transmitting film, so that the transition area of the non-display area corresponding to the touch protection layer is not excessively large, for example, the boundary of the third light-transmitting film can be limited by orthographic projection of one end of VSS (SD 1) close to the operable area 101 on the substrate layer substrate), and the boundary of the second light-transmitting film can be overlapped with the boundary of the pixel starting row, so that the height of the touch protection layer from the operable area 101 to the edge pixel area 102 is ensured to be consistent, and the transition area of the touch protection layer can be formed in the non-display area, so that the peripheral display unevenness is further slowed down.

The description of the specific orientation relationship should be adaptively adjusted when processing the left, upper and lower sides of the screen.

Because the ink-jet printing layer is not flat, the second inorganic packaging layer and the touch insulating layer which are prepared on the basis of the ink-jet printing layer are not flat. Therefore, the half-tone mask plate is utilized to etch one side, far away from the substrate layer, of the touch insulating layer, and further the problem of uneven touch insulating layer is solved, and the touch insulating layer with the same height can be obtained. Since the touch insulating layer becomes flat, the touch protective layer prepared on the touch insulating layer is highly flat, and the film thickness of the touch protective layer is uniform. As a result of etching the side of the touch insulating layer away from the base layer using the halftone mask, as shown in fig. 12, it can be seen that the upper edge of the touch insulating layer TLD is flat, and the touch protective layer TOC and the color filter layer CF prepared thereon also become uniform in film thickness and highly flat. The TLD and TOC areas of the pixel are smooth in topography, and the pixel edge area and the AA area have no CF height difference.

In one example, referring to fig. 13, the halftone mask includes an opaque film and a partially transparent film, and etching, by using the halftone mask, a side of the touch insulation layer away from the substrate layer includes:

and etching the flat area of one side, far away from the substrate layer, of the touch insulating layer by using the light-tight film.

The leveling area of one side of the touch insulating layer far away from the substrate layer is a film layer corresponding to the touch insulating layer in the operable area, and the film layers on the operable area are all the same in thickness and are flush in height, so that exposure treatment on the film layer on the operable area is not needed, and when illumination is received, the leveling area of the touch insulating layer is etched by using an opaque film with the light transmittance of 0.

The protruding area of one side of the touch insulating layer far away from the substrate layer is a film layer corresponding to the edge pixel area of the touch insulating layer, and the protruding area of the touch insulating layer can lead to the difference of film thickness between the touch protective layer and the color filter layer CF prepared on the touch protective layer and the color filter layer CF, specifically comprising: the thickness of the touch protection layer in the protruding area of the touch insulation layer is smaller than that of the touch protection layer in the operable area, and the height of the touch protection layer in the protruding area of the touch insulation layer is higher than that of the touch protection layer in the operable area; the thickness of the color filter layer in the protruding area of the touch protection layer is smaller than that in the operable area, and the height of the color filter layer in the protruding area of the touch protection layer is also higher than that in the operable area.

When illumination is received, the raised area of one side, far away from the substrate layer, of the touch insulating layer is etched by adopting the part light-transmitting film with certain light transmittance, so that the problem that the height of the touch insulating layer is uneven in the operable area and the edge pixel area can be solved, the touch insulating layer is as smooth in the edge pixel area and the operable area, no height difference exists, and the film thicknesses of the touch protective layer and the color filter layer CF prepared above the touch insulating layer are the same in the edge pixel area and the operable area and are flush in height. Wherein the light intensity passing through the opaque film is smaller than the light intensity passing through a part of the light-transmitting film.

In one example, referring to fig. 14, the partial light-transmitting films include a first light-transmitting film, a second light-transmitting film, and a third light-transmitting film, the light transmittances of the first light-transmitting film, the second light-transmitting film, and the third light-transmitting film are different, and the convex region of the touch insulating protection layer includes a first touch insulating layer convex sub-region, a second touch insulating layer convex sub-region, and a third touch insulating layer convex sub-region; the etching the raised area on one side of the touch insulating layer away from the substrate layer by using the partial light-transmitting film comprises the following steps:

Aiming at the convex area of the touch insulating layer, a multi-thickness exposure scheme is adopted. Dividing the protruding area of the touch insulating layer into a first protruding sub-area of the touch insulating layer, a second protruding sub-area of the touch insulating layer and a third protruding sub-area of the touch insulating layer, etching different protruding sub-areas by using light-transmitting films with different light transmittance, wherein the light transmittance of the first light-transmitting film is 30%, namely, the light transmittance of a part of light transmitting film A (Tr 30%) in the figure is 70%, namely, the light transmittance of a part of light transmitting film B (Tr 70%) in the figure is 20%, namely, the light transmittance of a part of light transmitting film C (Tr 20%) in the figure is light-proof film, and finally, one effect can be achieved: the height of the touch insulating layer on the edge pixel area is flush with the height on the operable area.

Preparing a second inorganic encapsulation layer on the inkjet printing layer;

Since the inkjet printed layer is not flat, the second inorganic encapsulation layer prepared on the basis of the inkjet printed layer is not flat. Therefore, the half-tone mask plate is utilized to etch one side of the second inorganic packaging layer far away from the substrate layer, so that the problem of uneven second inorganic packaging layer is solved, and the second inorganic packaging layer with the same height can be obtained. As a result of etching the side of the second inorganic encapsulation layer away from the base layer using the halftone mask, as shown in fig. 15, it can be seen that the upper edge of the second inorganic encapsulation layer CVD2 is flat, and the touch insulation layer TLD, the touch protection layer TOC, and the color filter layer CF prepared thereon also become film thickness uniform and highly flush. The pixel areas CVD2, TLD and TOC have flat topography, and the pixel edge area and the AA area have no CF height difference.

In one example, referring to fig. 16, the halftone mask includes an opaque film and a partially opaque film, and etching, with the halftone mask, a side of the second inorganic encapsulation layer away from the base layer includes:

and etching a flat area of one side of the second inorganic packaging layer far away from the substrate layer by utilizing the light-tight film.

The leveling area of one side of the second inorganic packaging layer far away from the substrate layer is a film layer corresponding to the operable area of the second inorganic packaging layer, and the film layers on the operable area are all the same in thickness and are flush in height, so that exposure treatment on the film layer on the operable area is not needed, and when illumination is received, an opaque film with the light transmittance of 0 is selected to etch the leveling area of the second inorganic packaging layer.

The protruding area of the side of the second inorganic packaging layer far away from the substrate layer is a film layer corresponding to the edge pixel area of the second inorganic packaging layer, and the protruding area of the second inorganic packaging layer can cause film thickness difference among the touch insulating layer, the touch protective layer and the color filter layer CF prepared on the protruding area, specifically comprising: the thickness of the touch insulating layer in the protruding area of the second inorganic packaging layer is smaller than that of the touch insulating layer in the operable area, and the height of the touch insulating layer in the protruding area of the second inorganic packaging layer is higher than that of the touch insulating layer in the operable area; the thickness of the touch protection layer in the protruding area of the touch insulation layer is smaller than that of the touch protection layer in the operable area, and the height of the touch protection layer in the protruding area of the touch insulation layer is higher than that of the touch protection layer in the operable area; the thickness of the color filter layer in the protruding area of the touch protection layer is smaller than that in the operable area, and the height of the color filter layer in the protruding area of the touch protection layer is also higher than that in the operable area.

When illumination is received, the protruding area of one side, far away from the substrate layer, of the second inorganic packaging layer is etched by adopting the part light-transmitting film with certain light transmittance, the problem that the height of the second inorganic packaging layer is uneven in the operable area and the edge pixel area can be solved, the second inorganic packaging layer is as smooth in the edge pixel area and the operable area, and no height difference exists, so that the touch insulating layer, the touch protective layer and the color filter layer CF prepared above the second inorganic packaging layer are identical in film thickness and are flush in height in the edge pixel area and the operable area. Wherein the light intensity passing through the opaque film is smaller than the light intensity passing through a part of the light-transmitting film.

In one example, referring to fig. 17, the partially transparent films include a first transparent film, a second transparent film, and a third transparent film, the light transmittance of the first transparent film, the second transparent film, and the third transparent film are different, and the bump region of the second inorganic encapsulation layer includes a first bump subregion of the second inorganic encapsulation layer, a second bump subregion of the second inorganic encapsulation layer, and a third bump subregion of the second inorganic encapsulation layer; the etching the raised area of the side, far away from the substrate layer, of the second inorganic packaging layer by using the partial light-transmitting film comprises the following steps:

And aiming at the convex area of the second inorganic packaging layer, adopting a multi-thickness exposure scheme. Dividing the convex area of the second inorganic packaging layer into a first convex subarea of the second inorganic packaging layer, a second convex subarea of the second inorganic packaging layer and a third convex subarea of the second inorganic packaging layer, etching different convex subareas by using light-transmitting films with different light transmittance, wherein the light transmittance of the first light-transmitting film is 30%, namely, the light transmittance of the first light-transmitting film is partially transmitted A (Tr 30%) in the figure, the light transmittance of the second light-transmitting film is 70%, namely, the light transmittance of the second light-transmitting film is partially transmitted B (Tr 70%), the light transmittance of the third light-transmitting film is 20%, namely, the light transmittance of the third light-transmitting film is partially transmitted C (Tr 20%) in the figure, the light-impermeable film is denoted by Tr 0%), and one effect achieved finally is that: the height of the second inorganic encapsulation layer over the edge pixel area is flush with the height over the operable area.

In a third aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide a display device, where the display device includes any one of the display panels described above in the present application.

It is noted that relational terms such as first and second, and the like are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. Moreover, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one … …" does not exclude the presence of other like elements in a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

In this specification, each embodiment is described in a related manner, and identical and similar parts of each embodiment are all referred to each other, and each embodiment mainly describes differences from other embodiments.

The foregoing description is only of the preferred embodiments of the present application and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. that are within the spirit and principles of the present application are intended to be included within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A display panel, comprising:

2. The display panel of claim 1, wherein the display panel comprises a substrate layer, a first planarization layer, a second planarization layer, a third planarization layer, a pixel definition layer, an electroluminescent layer, a first inorganic encapsulation layer, an inkjet printing layer, a second inorganic encapsulation layer, a touch insulation layer, a touch protection layer, an encapsulation layer;

3. The display panel of claim 2, wherein the display panel comprises,

at least one film layer is present between the ink jet print layer and the color filter layer, which film layer is highly flush in a direction away from the substrate layer side and parallel to the display panel in the operable region and the edge pixel region.

4. A display panel according to claim 3, wherein the touch protection layer is level and different in thickness on a side remote from the substrate layer in the operable region and the edge pixel region.

5. A display panel according to claim 3, wherein the touch insulating layer is level in height and different in thickness on a side away from the base layer in the operable region and the edge pixel region;

6. The display panel according to claim 3, wherein in the operable region and the edge pixel region, the second inorganic encapsulation layer is level in height and different in thickness on a side away from the base layer;

7. A method for manufacturing a display panel, the method comprising:

8. The method of claim 7, wherein preparing the second inorganic encapsulation layer on a side of the inkjet printed layer away from the substrate layer, preparing the touch insulating layer on a side of the second inorganic encapsulation layer away from the substrate layer, and preparing the touch protective layer on a side of the touch insulating layer away from the substrate layer, comprises:

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the halftone mask comprises an opaque film and a partially opaque film, and wherein etching the side of the touch protection layer away from the substrate layer with the halftone mask comprises:

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the partially transparent films comprise a first transparent film, a second transparent film, and a third transparent film, the first transparent film, the second transparent film, and the third transparent film having different light transmittance, and the raised areas of the touch protection layer comprise a first raised sub-area of the touch protection layer, a second raised sub-area of the touch protection layer, and a third raised sub-area of the touch protection layer; the etching the raised area on the side, far away from the substrate layer, of the touch protection layer by using the part of light-transmitting film comprises the following steps:

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the pre-prepared film layer comprises an operable area, an edge pixel area, and a non-display area, wherein a side of the partially transparent film near the center of the display panel is 2mm from the first dam of the non-display area, and wherein a side of the partially transparent film far from the center of the display panel is 10 μm from the first column of pixels of the edge pixel area; the distance between one side of the part of the light-transmitting film far away from the center of the display panel and the center of the display panel is larger than the distance between the first column of pixels of the edge pixel area and the center of the display panel, and the center of the display panel is located in the operable area.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein preparing the second inorganic encapsulation layer on a side of the inkjet printed layer away from the substrate layer, preparing the touch insulating layer on a side of the second inorganic encapsulation layer away from the substrate layer, and preparing the touch protective layer on a side of the touch insulating layer away from the substrate layer, comprises:

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the halftone mask comprises an opaque film and a partially opaque film, and wherein etching the side of the touch insulating layer away from the base layer with the halftone mask comprises:

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the partially transparent films comprise a first transparent film, a second transparent film, and a third transparent film, the first transparent film, the second transparent film, and the third transparent film having different light transmittance, and the raised areas of the touch insulating sheath comprise a first touch insulating layer raised sub-area, a second touch insulating layer raised sub-area, and a third touch insulating layer raised sub-area; the etching the raised area on one side of the touch insulating layer away from the substrate layer by using the partial light-transmitting film comprises the following steps:

15. The method of claim 7, wherein preparing the second inorganic encapsulation layer on a side of the inkjet printed layer away from the substrate layer, preparing the touch insulating layer on a side of the second inorganic encapsulation layer away from the substrate layer, and preparing the touch protective layer on a side of the touch insulating layer away from the substrate layer, comprises:

preparing a second inorganic encapsulation layer on the inkjet printing layer;

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the halftone mask comprises an opaque film and a partially opaque film, and wherein etching the side of the second inorganic encapsulation layer away from the base layer with the halftone mask comprises:

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the partially transparent films comprise a first transparent film, a second transparent film, and a third transparent film, the first transparent film, the second transparent film, and the third transparent film having different light transmission rates, the raised regions of the second inorganic encapsulation layer comprising a second inorganic encapsulation layer first raised subregion, a second inorganic encapsulation layer second raised subregion, and a second inorganic encapsulation layer third raised subregion; the etching the raised area of the side, far away from the substrate layer, of the second inorganic packaging layer by using the partial light-transmitting film comprises the following steps:

18. A display device comprising the display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 6.