JP2015210525A - Display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display panel in which a sealant has a special pattern and which is not constrained by a sealant dispenser or a manufacturing process at the same time.SOLUTION: A display panel is provided. The display panel comprises a first substrate, a second substrate and a sealant. The first substrate includes a display region. The second substrate is on the side opposite to the first substrate. The sealant is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and surrounds the display region. The sealant includes a plurality of node portions and a plurality of strip portions. The maximum width of the node portion is larger than the width of the strip portion. The node portion includes a first node portion. The first node portion and two strip portions adjacent thereto form a first angle facing the display region. The first angle is larger than 90 degrees.

Description

  The present invention relates generally to display panels, and more specifically to non-rectangular display panels.

  A generally known display panel is mainly composed of an array substrate and a counter substrate. The counter substrate is on the opposite side of the array substrate and is sealed with a colloidal such as a sealant or glass cement. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a display panel and its sealant. Referring to FIG. 1, a plan view of a generally known display panel 1 is shown. The display panel 1 includes a display area 11. The sealant 30 surrounds the display area 11. A conventional sealant dispenser dispenses sealant 30 at a constant flow rate and can only move along horizontal and vertical directions because of the biaxial design. Due to the above constraints, the applied sealant 30 forms an arc at the corner R, and the sealant 30 forms a rectangle with rounded corners after surrounding the display area over one circle. Therefore, the display panel 1 and its display area 11 must also be rectangular so as to match the pattern of the sealant 30. However, due to the popularity of portable electronic devices, wearable electronic devices, and automotive electronic devices that are characterized by light weight, thinness, and compactness, the rectangular shape alone cannot satisfy the increasing need for diversity.

  Furthermore, since the arc sealant 30 at the corner R contracts, the boundary area needs to be enlarged. Worst, if the sealant application is not properly controlled, the sealant 30 at the corner R can shrink to the interior of the display area 11 and degrade quality and fit.

US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0039605

  Thus, it has become a significant challenge for the industry how to provide a display panel whose sealant has a special pattern while not being constrained by a sealant dispenser or manufacturing process.

  The present invention is directed to a display panel. In an embodiment of the present invention, the sealant of the display panel includes a plurality of node portions (node portions) and a plurality of strip portions (strip portions). The node portion is interposed at the junction between two adjacent strip portions. Each node portion and two strip portions adjacent to each node portion form an angle. These angles are greater than 90 degrees. Under such a design, the sealant can achieve an irregular pattern, and a display panel using the sealant can also achieve an irregular pattern.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, a display panel is provided. The display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a sealant. The first substrate has a display area. The second substrate is on the opposite side of the first substrate. The sealant is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and surrounds and confines the display area. The sealant includes a plurality of node portions and a plurality of strip portions. The maximum width of each node portion is larger than the width of each strip portion. Each node portion is interposed at a junction between two adjacent strip portions. The node portion includes a first node portion. The first node portion and the two strip portions adjacent to the first node portion form a first angle facing the display area. The first angle is greater than 90 degrees.

  The above and other features of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following detailed description of non-limiting preferred embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is a top view which shows the display panel generally known. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the display panel of FIG. 2A. It is a top view which shows the Example from which the sealant pattern of a display panel differs. It is a top view which shows the Example from which the sealant pattern of a display panel differs. It is a top view which shows the Example from which the sealant pattern of a display panel differs. It is a top view which shows the Example from which the sealant pattern of a display panel differs. It is a top view which shows the Example from which the sealant pattern of a display panel differs.

  In order to elaborate the present invention, a number of embodiments are disclosed below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and the detailed description to indicate the same elements. The drawings have been simplified to provide a clear description of the embodiments of the present invention, and the detailed configurations disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention are for detailed description only and limit the protection scope of the present invention. Rather, it should be understood that one skilled in the art of the present invention may make the necessary modifications or changes according to the actual needs in practice.

  Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B simultaneously, FIG. 2A is a plan view of the display panel 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the display panel 2 of FIG. 2A along the cross-sectional line 2B-2B '. The display panel 2 includes a first substrate 10, a second substrate 20, and a sealant 30. The first substrate 10 has a display area 11. The second substrate 20 is on the side opposite to the first substrate 10. The sealant 30 is disposed between the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20 in order to bond the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20. The sealant 30 surrounds and confines the display region 11 and includes a plurality of node portions 31 (node portions) and a plurality of strip portions 32 (strip portions). The maximum width W31 of each node portion 31 is larger than the width W32 of each strip portion 32. Each node portion 31 is interposed at a joint between two strip portions 32 adjacent to the node portion 31. Each node portion 31 and the two strip portions 32 adjacent to each node portion form an angle, such as angles θ1 and θ2, on one side near the display area 11. These angles θ1 and θ2 are larger than 90 degrees. In some embodiments, the angles θ1 and θ2 may not be equal.

  In the display panel 2 of this embodiment, the angle formed on one side in the vicinity of the display region 11 by the node portion 31 of the sealant 30 and the two strip portions 32 adjacent to the node portion 31 is adjusted. A simple sealant dispenser can achieve a variety of different geometric shapes, such as irregular shapes. In order to achieve different geometric shapes of the display panel 2, different geometric patterns can be taken together with different geometric shapes of the display area 11 of the first substrate 10. Since the angles θ1 and θ2 are larger than 90 degrees, it is unlikely that the sealant 30 will shrink toward the display area 11, and the panel space can be used more efficiently, thus increasing the quality and fit rate. obtain.

  Referring to FIG. 2A, the display panel 2 is the main segment of a circle cut by a string. The string cuts the circle into two parts and the main segment is the larger of the two parts. The sealant 30 surrounds the display area 11 and also has a shape of a main segment. The sealant 30 is applied (dispensed) onto the first substrate 10 (illustrated in FIG. 2B), for example, by a sealant dispenser. For example, the coordinates of each node portion 31 along the horizontal direction and the vertical direction (X axis and Y axis) are first calculated. Next, a sealant pattern as shown in FIG. 2A may be formed by moving the sealant dispenser clockwise or counterclockwise relative to each node portion 31.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the pattern of sealant 30 is similar to the main segment of a circle cut by a string. The string divides the circle into a circumferential part C1 and a string part C2. The sealant 30 includes a plurality of node portions 31 (node portions) and a plurality of strip portions 32 (strip portions). Each node portion 31 is interposed at a junction between two strip portions 32 adjacent to each node portion 31. The strip portion 32 is a straight line segment that connects two adjacent node portions 31. The sealant dispenser moves continuously to apply the sealant. During the process direction change, the sealant dispenser has a longer response time at each node portion 31 and applies extra sealant 30, so the maximum width W31 of the node portion 31 is greater than the width W32 of the strip portion 32. . The node portion 31 and the two strip portions 32 adjacent to the node portion 31 form an angle (such as angles θ1 and θ2) on one side of the display area 11. The angles θ1 and θ2 are preferably greater than 90 degrees so that the sealant 30 is not contracted inward toward the display area 11 at angles θ1 and θ2 and does not cause contamination. In the circumferential portion C1 of the sealant 30 (such as the enlarged region 2 '), the angles θ1 and θ2 formed by each node portion 31 and the two strip portions 32 adjacent to each node portion have the same measure. . However, at the junction between the circumferential portion C1 and the chord portion C2 of the sealant 30 (such as the enlarged region 2 "), the node portion 31 includes a first node portion 31a, a second node portion 31b, The first node portion 31a and the two strip portions 32 adjacent to the first node portion form a first angle θ3 that faces the display region 11. The first angle θ3 is greater than 90 degrees. The second node portion 31b and the two strip portions 32 adjacent to the second node portion form a second angle θ4 facing the display area 11. The second angle θ4 is the first angle θ4. The maximum width of the first node portion 31a at the apex of the first angle θ3 is smaller than the maximum width of the second node portion 31b at the apex of the second angle θ4. Node portion 31 and By adjusting the angle formed by the two strip portions 32 adjacent to the node portion, different shapes other than the rounded rectangle formed by using commonly known techniques (see FIG. 1) can be obtained. Irregular pattern sealant can be achieved to produce a display panel having.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the pattern of sealant 30 is similar to the main segment of a circle cut by a string. The pattern of sealant 30 has a geometric center C which is the center of a circle. The node portions 31 on the circumference of the circle are arranged at equal intervals. For example, the node portions 31 in the enlarged region 2 'are arranged at equal intervals. That is, each node portion 31 on the circumference of the circle has the same interior angle, and every adjacent node portion 31 is connected by a strip portion 32. That is, the pattern of sealant 30 replaces the arc shape with a straight segment of strip portion 32. The distance r0 from the geometric center C to the node portion 31 (ie, the radius of the circle) and the vertical distance X (ie, the shortest distance) from the geometric center C to the strip portion 32 adjacent to the geometric center. The difference between them is called the design deviation between the circumferential portion of the sealant 30 and the circumference of the circle. The design deviation is such that the strip portion 32 of the sealant 30 contracts inward from the arc. The degree of design deviation can be adjusted by changing the number of node portions 31 on the circumference. As the number of node portions 31 on the circumference increases, the strip portion 32 becomes closer to the arc and the design deviation decreases.

  In certain embodiments, the design deviation of the sealant 30 is preferably less than 50 micrometers (μm), although the present invention is not so limited. The design deviation of the sealant 30 is greatly related to the width of the boundary region 12 of the display panel 2. The width of the boundary area 12 is the distance from the edge of the display area 11 to the edge of the display panel 2. As the width of the boundary area 12 decreases (as in the narrower boundary area design), the design deviation also decreases to avoid the sealant 30 overflowing the display area 11 while applying the sealant 3. There is a need to. In actual design, when the design deviation is larger than 50 μm, the shape of the sealant 30 is closer to the polygon than the circular arc. Therefore, when a circular arc pattern is considered, the design deviation needs to be taken into account.

  2B is a cross-sectional view of the display panel 2 of FIG. 2A along the cross-sectional line 2B-2B '. As shown in FIG. 2B, the display panel 2 includes a first substrate 10, an insulating layer 16, a metal layer 17, a flat layer 13, a transparent electrode layer 14, a second substrate 20, and a sealant 30. including. The first substrate 10 is an active array substrate such as a TFT substrate. The first substrate 10 has a display area 11 and a boundary area 12. The display area 11 is disposed at the center of the first substrate 10. A boundary area 12 from the edge of the display area 11 to the edge of the first substrate surrounds the edge of the display area 11. In some embodiments, the insulating layer 16 and the metal layer 17 are sequentially disposed on the first substrate. The flat layer 13 is disposed on the metal layer 17. The metal layer 17 in the display region 11 and the metal layer 17 in the boundary region 12, such as scan lines, gate lines, or data lines, may be on the same layer and may be formed in the same manufacturing process. The transparent electrode layer 14 is disposed on the flat layer 13. The flat layer 13 has an opening 15 in the boundary region 12. The opening 15 penetrates the flat layer 13 and exposes the metal layer 17. The sealant 30 is disposed in the opening 15. The opening 15 restricts the position of the sealant 30 to prevent the sealant 30 from diffusing inwardly and contaminating the display area 11, or from diffusing outwardly to overflow the display panel 2. . If the design of the opening 15 that constrains the position of the sealant 30 is used, the width of the boundary region 12 can be reduced. Furthermore, if the design of the opening 15 that allows the sealant 30 to lean directly against the metal layer 17 is used, the sealant 30 is also removed from the metal layer 17 when the first layer 13 is peeled away from the metal layer 17. The risk of peeling off can be avoided.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, since the opening 15 exposes the first substrate 10 below, the inner edge 15a of the opening 15 is to prevent the transparent layer 14 and the first layer 10 from conducting and short circuiting. In addition, the distance D1 needs to be separated from the edge of the transparent electrode layer 14. The inner edge 15 a of the opening 15 refers to one side of the opening 15 adjacent to the transparent electrode layer 14. In an embodiment, the distance D1 from the inner edge 15a of the opening 15 to the edge of the transparent electrode layer 14 is preferably between 10 μm and 100 μm.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the flat layer 13 can be inclined on the top surface of the boundary region 12. In the boundary region 12, the height h 2 of the portion of the flat layer 13 adjacent to the display region 11 is larger than the height h 1 of the portion of the flat layer 13 adjacent to the edge of the first substrate 10. For example, the inclined flat layer 13 can be formed using a gray tone mask (GTM). Details of the manufacturing process are generally known to those skilled in the art of the present invention and will not be repeated here. After the opening 15 is formed, each of the inner edge 15a and the outer edge 15b of the opening 15 has an inclined flat layer 13. The outer edge 15 b of the opening 15 indicates one side of the opening 15 away from the transparent electrode layer 14. As the flat layer 13 approaches the display region 11, the height of the inclined flat layer 13 disposed at the inner edge 15 a of the opening 15 increases, and the sealant 30 diffuses toward the display region 11 to cause contamination. Avoid generating. As the flat layer 13 approaches the edge of the first substrate 10, the height of the flat layer 13 disposed at the outer edge 15 b of the opening 15 is such that the sealant 30 diffuses toward the edge of the first substrate 10. It decreases. The distance between the inner edge 15a and the outer edge 15b of the opening 15 is preferably between 150 μm and 400 μm. That is, the width of the sealant 30 is larger than the width of the opening 15. Due to the restriction due to the opening 15, the sealant 30 does not flow over the edge of the first substrate 10, and a part of the sealant 30 is disposed on the flat layer 13. In general, when the display panel 2 is cut, if the cut has a sealant residue, the cutting knife will drag the substrate and damage the display panel 2 because of the strong adhesion between the sealant and the substrate. There is a possibility to make it. According to this embodiment of the invention, a portion of the sealant 30 is disposed on the flat layer 13. Since the adhesion between the sealant 30 and the flat layer 13 is weaker, if the cut portion has a residue of the sealant 30 in the overlap portion between the sealant 30 and the flat layer 13, the display panel 2 is connected to the sealant 30. It is not damaged by weak adhesion with the flat layer 13.

  Sealant 30 seals display panel 2 and avoids interfering with internal elements by impurities such as moisture. In order to generate the display panel 2 whose display area 11 has a non-rectangular pattern, the sealant 30 needs to be applied along the non-rectangular display area 11. A number of embodiments of the display panel are illustrated below with reference to the accompanying drawings, FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view of a display panel 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the pattern of the display panel 3 and the sealant 30 is a truncated ellipse. The sealant 30 includes an elliptical circumferential portion C3 and a chord portion C4. Referring to the enlarged region 3 ′, in the circumferential portion C3, each of the angles θ5 and θ6 is formed by the node portion 31 and two strip portions 32 (strip portions) adjacent to the node portion, and the angles θ5 and θ6 are Not equal. Referring to the enlarged region 3 ′, at the junction between the elliptical circumferential portion C3 and the chord portion C4 of the sealant 30, the node portion includes the first node portion 31a and the second node portion 31b. Including. The first node portion 31a and the two strip portions 32 adjacent to the first node portion form a first angle θ7 that faces the display region 11. The first angle θ7 is greater than 90 degrees. The second node portion 31 b and the two strip portions 32 adjacent to the second node portion form a second angle θ 8 facing the display area 11. The second angle θ8 is smaller than the first angle θ7. The maximum width of the first node portion 31a at the apex of the first angle θ7 is smaller than the maximum width of the second node portion 31b at the apex of the second angle θ8.

  Since each of the angles θ5 and θ6 formed by the node portion 31 and the two strip portions 32 adjacent to the node portion is larger than 90 degrees, the degree to which the sealant 30 is contracted toward the display region 11 can be reduced. In addition, a thin frame design can be achieved, and the space inside the sealant 30 can be used more efficiently as the display region 11.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view of a display panel 4 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The display panel 4 of FIG. 4 is similar to the display panel 3 of FIG. 3 except that the display panel 4 of FIG. 4 is cut by two parallel strings. In the elliptical circumferential portion C5 of the sealant 30 of the display panel 4, such as arcs on the left hand side and right hand side of FIG. 4, the angles θ9 and θ10 each have a node portion 31 and two strips adjacent to the node portion. And θ9 and θ10 are not equal. At the junction between the elliptical circumferential portion C5 and the chord portion C6 of the sealant 30 (such as the bottom left corner of FIG. 4), the node portions are a first node portion 31a and a second node portion 31b. Including. The first node portion 31 a and the two strip portions 32 adjacent to the first node portion form a first angle θ11 facing the display area 11. The first angle θ11 is greater than 90 degrees. The second node portion 31b and the two strip portions 32 adjacent to the second node portion form a second angle θ12 facing the display area 11. The second angle θ12 is smaller than the first angle θ11. The maximum width of the first node portion 31a that is the vertex of the first angle θ11 is smaller than the maximum width of the second node portion 31b that is the vertex of the second angle θ12. Other features of the display panel 4 of FIG. 4 are similar to those of the display panel 3 of FIG. 3 and will not be repeated here.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view of a display panel 5 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The shape of the display panel 5 of FIG. 5 is a heptagon, and the sealant 30 has a special design at the seven apexes of the heptagon. In one embodiment, a node portion 31 is added to each of the two sides of the heptagon vertex to avoid problems that would occur if the rotation angle was too large. If too few node portions 31 are arranged, the rotation angle becomes too large. During the change of direction of travel, the sealant dispenser has a longer response time at each node part 31, applies an extra sealant 30 at the node part 31, makes the maximum width of the node part 31 excessive or even diffuses into the display area 11. To do. Thus, a design that adds a node portion 31 on each side of the vertex alleviates potential problems.

  FIG. 6 is a plan view of a display panel 6 according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the display area 11 of the display panel 6 has a concave arc edge C <b> 8 that is recessed toward the geometric center C of the display area 11. The node portion 31 includes a third node portion 31c corresponding to the concave arc edge C8. The third node portion 31 c and the two strip portions 32 adjacent to the third node portion form a third angle θ 20 facing the display region 11. The third angle θ20 is greater than 180 degrees. The concave arc edge C8 is an indented portion facing the geometric center C of the display area 11. An acute angle portion C7 is formed in a part of the display area 11 connecting the concave arc edge C8. When designing the pattern of the sealant 30 in the acute angle portion C7, the acute angle can be converted into several obtuse angles through the design of the plurality of subnode portions 312. For example, the pattern of the acute angle θ16 of the display panel 6 can be converted into obtuse angles θ17, θ18, and θ19 (illustrated in the enlarged region 6 ') using a plurality of subnode portions 312. Both the obtuse angles θ17 and θ19 are larger than the obtuse angle θ18, and each of the obtuse angles θ17, θ18, and θ19 is displayed in the display area 11 by the node portion 31 facing the concave arc edge C8 and the two strip portions 32 adjacent to the node portion. Is smaller than the third angle θ20 formed on one side near. Since an acute angle shape is formed by a number of subnode portions 312, the sealant dispenser needs to have a larger rotation angle at the subnode portion 312, and the width of the subnode portion 312 is greater than the width of the node portion 31. Based on the above design, the display panel can achieve any shape. Sealant 30 may be formed by using a conventional biaxial sealant dispenser.

  FIG. 7 is a plan view of a display panel 7 according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the display panel 7 has a shell shape, and the sealant 30 of the display panel 7 has an arc edge and three straight edges. Two straight edges, either through direct connection as shown in FIG. 7 or through the above design to place the plurality of subnode portions so that the sealant 30 is more smoothly applied and does not shrink inward toward the display area 11 Or a joint between one straight edge and one arc edge may be realized.

  The display panel sealant disclosed in the above embodiments has a special design pattern that can be achieved by using a conventional biaxial (XY-axis) sealant dispenser. Therefore, a display panel having an irregular shape can be manufactured without changing the sealant dispenser. On the one hand, in the sealant, each node part and two strip parts adjacent to each node part so that the degree of shrinkage of the sealant towards the display area is reduced and the space inside the sealant can be used more efficiently. The angle formed by is greater than 90 degrees.

  While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, the scope of the appended claims is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and thus the broadest interpretation is to encompass all such variations and similar arrangements and procedures. Must be given to.

2 Display panel 2 'Enlarged area 3 Display panel 3' Enlarged area 4 Display panel 5 Display panel 6 Display panel 6 'Enlarged area 7 Display panel 10 First substrate 11 Display area 12 Boundary area 13 Flat layer 14 Transparent electrode layer 15 Opening 15a inner edge 15b outer edge 16 insulating layer 17 metal layer 20 second substrate 30 sealant 31 node portion 31a first node portion 31b second node portion 31c third node portion 32 strip portion 312 subnode portion C geometric Center C1 Circumferential portion C2 Chord portion C3 Elliptical circumferential portion C4 Chord portion C5 Elliptical circumferential portion C6 Chord portion C7 Acute angle portion C8 Arc edge D1 Distance D2 Distance h1 Height h2 Height W12 Width W31 Maximum width W2 Width θ1 Angle θ2 Angle θ3 First angle θ4 Second angle θ5 Angle θ6 Angle θ7 first angle θ8 second angle θ9 angle θ10 angle θ11 first angle θ12 second angle θ16 acute angle θ17 obtuse angle θ18 obtuse angle θ19 obtuse angle θ20 third angle

Claims (13)

A first substrate having a display area;
A second substrate opposite the first substrate;
A sealant disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, the sealant surrounding and confining the display area, the sealant comprising a plurality of node portions, a plurality of strip portions, The maximum width of each node portion is greater than the width of each strip portion, each node portion being interposed at a junction between two adjacent adjacent strip portions,
The node portion includes a first node portion, and the first node portion and two strip portions adjacent to the first node portion form a first angle facing the display area; The first angle is greater than 90 degrees;
Display panel.   The node portion includes a second node portion, and the second node portion and two strip portions adjacent to the second node portion form a second angle facing the display area, and The display panel according to claim 1, wherein the second angle is smaller than the first angle.   The display panel according to claim 2, wherein the maximum width of the first node portion at the vertex of the first angle is smaller than the maximum width of the second node portion at the vertex of the second angle. .   The display area has a geometric center, and a distance from the geometric center to each node portion is larger than a vertical distance from the geometric center to the strip portion adjacent to the node portion. The display panel according to claim 1.   The display panel of claim 1, wherein each strip portion is a straight segment. Further comprising a first layer disposed on the first substrate;
The first layer has a boundary region adjacent to the display region that surrounds an edge of the display region and extends to an edge of the first substrate, and the flat layer disposed in the boundary region includes the boundary layer An opening for exposing the first substrate; and the sealant is disposed on the opening sheet.
The display panel according to claim 1.   The display panel according to claim 6, wherein a width of the sealant is larger than a width of the opening.   The display according to claim 6, wherein, in the boundary region, a height of a portion of the flat layer adjacent to the display region is larger than a height of a portion of the flat layer adjacent to the edge of the first substrate. panel. A transparent electrode layer disposed on the flat layer;
The opening has an inner edge adjacent to the transparent conductive layer, and a distance from the inner edge to the edge of the transparent electrode layer is between 10 μm and 100 μm.
The display panel according to claim 6.   The display panel according to claim 9, wherein the opening has an outer edge separated from the transparent conductive layer, and a distance from the inner edge to the outer edge is between 150 μm and 400 μm.   The display panel according to claim 9, wherein the sealant covers a portion of the flat layer adjacent to the outer edge.   The display area has a concave arc edge that is recessed toward a geometric center of the display area, and the node portion includes a third node portion corresponding to the concave arc edge, the third node The portion and two strip portions adjacent to the third node portion form a third angle facing the display area, the third angle being greater than 180 degrees. Display panel.   The display area has an acute angle, and the sealant corresponding to the acute angle shape has a plurality of subnode portions, and the maximum width of each subnode portion is larger than the maximum width of the node portion. Display panel according to.

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