CN112462556B

CN112462556B - Display Panel

Info

Publication number: CN112462556B
Application number: CN201910846612.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈谚宗
Original assignee: Hannstar Display Corp
Current assignee: Hannstar Display Corp
Priority date: 2019-09-09
Filing date: 2019-09-09
Publication date: 2024-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2039-09-09
Also published as: CN112462556A

Abstract

The invention discloses a display panel, which is provided with an axis in a first direction and is bent into a curved surface by the axis. The display panel is provided with a first area and a second area. The display panel comprises a first substrate, a second substrate and a spacer, wherein the spacer is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, the spacer comprises a plurality of strip spacers, at least part of the strip spacers are arranged in the first area, and at least part of the strip spacers are arranged in the second area. The distance between the first region and the axis is smaller than the distance between the second region and the axis, and the distance between the strip-shaped spacers in the first region is larger than the distance between the strip-shaped spacers in the second region. Therefore, the gap variation between the two substrates can be avoided.

Description

Display panel

Technical Field

The invention relates to a curved display panel.

Background

With the development of display technology, curved liquid crystal displays have been widely used. The utility model is very popular with users because it can greatly promote the sense of being surrounded and immersed by users. The conventional curved liquid crystal display is generally manufactured by first manufacturing a color filter substrate and an array substrate in a planar state, then joining the color filter substrate and the array substrate to form a planar liquid crystal panel, and then bending the planar liquid crystal panel to form a curved liquid crystal panel. The bending degree of the color filter substrate and the bending degree of the array substrate in the curved surface state are different, and the pixels on the color filter substrate and the pixels on the array substrate cannot be vertically aligned due to sliding dislocation, so that the problems of color mixing, light leakage and the like can occur, and the display quality is obviously reduced.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a display panel which can avoid the variation of the gap between two substrates.

The embodiment of the invention provides a display panel, which is provided with an axis in a first direction and is bent into a curved surface along the axis. The display panel is provided with a first area and a second area. The display panel comprises a first substrate, a second substrate and a spacer. The first substrate is provided with a data line and a gate line, and a sub-pixel is arranged at the intersection of the data line and the gate line. The second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate. The spacer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the spacer includes a plurality of stripe spacers, wherein at least a portion of the stripe spacers are disposed in the first region, and at least a portion of the stripe spacers are disposed in the second region. The distance between the first region and the axis is smaller than the distance between the second region and the axis, and the distance between the strip-shaped spacers in the first region is larger than the distance between the strip-shaped spacers in the second region.

In some embodiments, the curved surface has a maximum radius of curvature value R1 and a minimum radius of curvature value R2, wherein the radius of curvature of the first region is equal to or smaller than R1 or equal to or larger than (r1+r2)/2, and the radius of curvature of the second region is equal to or larger than R2 or equal to or smaller than (r1+r2)/2.

In some embodiments, the stripe-shaped spacers include a first stripe-shaped spacer extending along a first direction and a second stripe-shaped spacer extending along a second direction, the second direction being different from the first direction. The distance between the second stripe-shaped spacers in the first region and the second region is the same. The first stripe-shaped spacers in the first region are spaced apart from each other more than the first stripe-shaped spacers in the second region.

In some embodiments, the first stripe-shaped spacers intersect with the second stripe-shaped spacers. The number of the sub-pixels surrounded by the part of the first strip-shaped spacers and the part of the second strip-shaped spacers in the first area is larger than the number of the sub-pixels surrounded by the part of the first strip-shaped spacers and the part of the second strip-shaped spacers in the second area.

In some embodiments, a plurality of sub-pixels make up a pixel. A portion of the first stripe-shaped spacers and a portion of the second stripe-shaped spacers surround the plurality of sub-pixels in the first region. A portion of the first stripe-shaped spacers and a portion of the second stripe-shaped spacers surround each pixel in the second region.

In some embodiments, the display panel further includes a third region, and a distance between the third region and the axis is greater than a distance between the first region and the axis and greater than a distance between the second region and the axis. The first stripe-shaped spacers in the third region are spaced apart from each other more than the first stripe-shaped spacers in the second region.

In some embodiments, the first stripe-shaped spacers and the second stripe-shaped spacers are abutted against the first substrate and the second substrate.

In some embodiments, the spacers further comprise columnar spacers having the same distribution density in both the first region and the second region.

In some embodiments, the display panel further includes a black matrix disposed on the second substrate, and a portion of the black matrix projected on the first substrate overlaps a portion of the stripe-shaped spacers.

In another aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a display panel having an axis in a first direction and curved with the axis. The display panel comprises a first substrate, a second substrate and a spacer. The first substrate is provided with a data line and a gate line, the intersection of the data line and the gate line is provided with a sub-pixel, and the sub-pixels form a pixel. The second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate. The spacer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the spacer includes a plurality of stripe-shaped spacers, wherein at least part of the stripe-shaped spacers surrounds one of the pixels.

Compared with the prior art, the display panel disclosed by the invention has the advantages that the problems of color mixing, light leakage and the like do not occur, so that the display quality is not reduced.

In order to make the above features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a partial side view illustrating a display panel according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic top-view circuit diagram of an array substrate according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of a color filter substrate according to one embodiment.

Fig. 4A is a schematic top view illustrating a display panel when the display panel is erected and bent into a curved surface according to an embodiment.

Fig. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of the display panel when the display panel is upright and bent into a curved surface according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the design of the black matrix and the spacers in the first region and the third region according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the design of the black matrix and the spacers in the second region according to one embodiment.

Fig. 7 and 8 are schematic diagrams illustrating the placement of spacers according to some embodiments.

Fig. 9A-9F are schematic diagrams illustrating the placement of spacers according to some embodiments.

The main reference numerals illustrate:

410-axis, 421-first region, 422-second region, 702, 712-stripe-like spacers, 704, 714-column-like spacers, D1-first direction, D2-second direction.

Detailed Description

The terms "first," "second," …, etc. as used herein do not denote a particular order or sequence, but rather are merely used to distinguish one element or operation from another in the same technical term.

FIG. 1 is a partial side view illustrating a display panel according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic top-view circuit diagram of an array substrate according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of a color filter substrate according to one embodiment. Referring to fig. 1 to 3, the display panel 100 includes a first substrate 110 and a second substrate 120. The first substrate 110 is also referred to as an array substrate, and has thin film transistors 111, gate lines 112, data lines 113, pixel electrodes 114, a common electrode (not shown), an insulating layer 115, and the like disposed thereon. The data line 113 has a subpixel (e.g., subpixel P including a corresponding thin film transistor 111, a pixel electrode 114, and a common electrode) at an intersection with the gate line 112. For example, the gate line 112 may be formed of a first metal layer, the data line 113 may be formed of a second metal layer, and the pixel electrode and the common electrode may be formed of different transparent conductive layers. The second substrate 120 is also referred to as a color filter substrate, and a black matrix 121, a color filter 122, and the like are disposed thereon. A liquid crystal layer LC, a spacer 131, and the like are disposed between the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120. For simplicity, not all the elements of the display panel 100 are shown in fig. 1, for example, the display panel 100 may further include other optical elements such as polarizers, alignment films, brightness enhancement films, etc., or more metal layers, transparent conductive layers, insulating layers, etc., or various optional elements allocated to the backlight module.

The gate line 112 is used to turn on/off the corresponding thin film transistor 111, thereby transmitting the signal on the data line 113 to the pixel electrode 114. The voltage between the pixel electrode 114 and the common electrode is used to determine the rotation direction of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer LC. In addition, the black matrix 121 is used for shielding the gate lines 112 and the data lines 113, and the color filter 112 may be red, green or blue for determining the color of the sub-pixel P. The spacer layer 131 may abut the first substrate 110 and/or the second substrate 120, and the components or deposits on the first substrate 110 and/or the second substrate 120 may directly contact the spacer 131 to provide a supporting function to maintain the liquid crystal gap.

The materials of the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 may include glass, polymer, polyethylene terephthalate (polyethylene terephthalate, PET), polycarbonate (polycarbonate, PC), polyethersulfone (polyether sulfone, PES), cellulose triacetate (TRIACETYL CELLULOSE, TAC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene (polyethylene), cyclic Olefin Polymer (COP), polyimide (PI), and a composite material of Polycarbonate (PC) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), etc., but the invention is not limited thereto. The material of the pixel electrode 114 and the common electrode may include Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (Indium zinc oxide, IZO), tin oxide (antimony tin oxide, ATO), fluorine tin oxide (fluorine tin oxide, FTO), or other conductive and substantially transparent materials, such as nano-wires (nano-wires ). The materials of the gate lines 112, 113 may include aluminum, copper, titanium, and tungsten or other suitable conductive materials. The material of the spacer 131 may comprise any suitable insulating material. The material of the black matrix 121 may comprise any suitable opaque material.

Fig. 4A is a schematic top view illustrating a display panel when the display panel is erected and bent into a curved surface according to an embodiment. Fig. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of the display panel when the display panel is upright and bent into a curved surface according to an embodiment. Referring to fig. 4A and 4B, the display panel 100 has an axis 410 in a first direction D1 and is curved into a curved surface 430 with the axis 410 as a reference. Here, the first direction D1 refers to a direction emitted from the paper surface of fig. 4A, in other words, a direction from below to above the display panel 100. The display panel 100 may be divided into at least two regions according to a distance from the axis 410. Specifically, the distance between the first region 421 and the axis 410 is less than the distance between the second region 422 and the axis 410, and the distance between the second region 422 and the axis 410 is less than the distance between the third region 423 and the axis 410.

Curved surface 430 may have different radii of curvature within different regions. Generally, the region closer to the axis 410 has a larger radius of curvature, while the region farther from the axis 410 has a smaller radius of curvature. Here, the curvature radius of the curved surface 430 may be continuously changed, that is, the curvature radius may be different even in the same area, or the curvature radius of the curved surface 430 may be the same in the same area, which is not limited to the present invention. In some embodiments, the intersection of curved surface 430 and axis 410 has a maximum radius of curvature R1, and the intersection of curved surface 430 and horizontal line 411 has a minimum radius of curvature R2. The radius of curvature of the first region 421 is equal to or less than R1 or equal to or greater than (r1+r2)/2, the radius of curvature of the second region 422 is equal to or greater than R2 or equal to or less than (r1+r2)/2, and the radius of curvature of the third region 423 is also equal to or greater than R2 or equal to or less than (r1+r2)/2. In some embodiments, the radius of curvature of the curved surface 430 may be fixed, e.g., the same radius of curvature for each region within the plane.

In other embodiments, the area closer to the axis 410 has a smaller radius of curvature, and the area farther from the axis 410 has a larger radius of curvature, or the radius of curvature of the curved surface 430 may be arbitrarily set, and the present invention is not limited to the positions of the maximum radius of curvature R1 and the minimum radius of curvature R2. In addition, three regions 421 to 423 are shown in fig. 4A and 4B, but in other embodiments, the display panel 100 can be divided into more or less regions, which is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in some embodiments the third region 423 may be incorporated into the second region 422, nor is the invention limited in the size of the regions 421-423. In some embodiments, the radius of curvature of the curved surface 430 may be fixed, e.g., the same radius of curvature for each region within the plane. While the area near the axis 410 has a lower proportion of the spacer distribution than the area farther from the axis.

In particular, the spacers and the black matrix may be differently arranged in different areas. Specifically, the proportion of the spacers distributed in the first region 421 is smaller than the proportion of the spacers distributed in the second region 422. In some embodiments, "distribution ratio" refers to the ratio of the spacers to the area of the display panel per unit area (e.g., per square centimeter, per flat millimeter, or other suitable area), i.e., the area of the spacers divided by the area of the corresponding area. In other embodiments, the spacers may be columnar or stripe-shaped, and the "distribution ratio" refers to the number of columnar or stripe-shaped spacers on the display panel per unit area, that is, the number of spacers divided by the area of the corresponding area. In the display panel 100, in a curved state, the first area 421 near the central axis 410 is relatively close to a plane, and the tensile stress of the area is smaller than that of the curved area such as 422 or 423, and the spacers with a lower distribution ratio can be disposed in the first area 421 to satisfy the gap variation of the area, and the embodiments will be described below for disposing the spacers and the black matrix.

Referring to fig. 5 and 6, fig. 5 shows the design of the black matrix and the spacers (shown in top view) in the first region 421 and the third region 423, and only the black matrix 121, the spacers and the color filters are shown for simplicity. In fig. 5, the spacers include a first stripe-shaped spacer 511 extending along a first direction D1 and a second stripe-shaped spacer 512 extending along a second direction D2. The second direction D2 is different from the first direction D1, for example, they are perpendicular to each other or the included angle between the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 is greater than 45 degrees. Fig. 6 shows a black matrix and spacer design in the second region 422, wherein the spacers include a first stripe-shaped spacer 611 extending along the first direction D1 and a second stripe-shaped spacer 612 extending along the second direction D2. In fig. 5 and 6, the distances between the second stripe spacers 512 are the same, the distances between the second stripe spacers 612 are the same, and the distances between the second stripe spacers 512 are the same as the distances between the second stripe spacers 612. However, the distance between the first stripe-shaped spacers 511 is greater than the distance between the first stripe-shaped spacers 611, which makes the distribution ratio of the spacers in fig. 5 smaller than that in fig. 6.

Since the width of the black matrix 121 in the second direction D2 in fig. 5 is smaller than the width of the black matrix 121 in the second direction D2 in fig. 6 by bending the center axis 410 to the left and right sides in this embodiment, the offset between the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 is relatively large in the second region 422, and thus a wider black matrix 121 is required to avoid light leakage. It should be noted that the width of the black matrix 121 in the third region 423 is smaller than that of the black matrix in the second region 422, because the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 are fixed to each other by the sealant (sealant) at both sides of the display panel 100, and thus the offset between the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 in the third region 423 is relatively small, and a relatively narrow black matrix 121 can be designed. However, in the width of the black matrix perpendicular to the second direction D2, the width thereof may be regarded as equidistant since the bending offset does not have an influence. In addition, the projection of the black matrix 121 on the first substrate 110 overlaps the first stripe spacers 511 and 611 and the second stripe spacers 512 and 612, and the width of the black matrix 121 is greater than or equal to the widths of the first stripe spacers 511 and 611 and the second stripe spacers 512 and 612, so that the first stripe spacers 511 and 611 and the second stripe spacers 512 and 612 can be shielded.

On the other hand, in fig. 5, the first stripe spacers 511 and the second stripe spacers 512 intersect each other, and every three sub-pixels are surrounded by the surrounding first stripe spacers 511 and second stripe spacers 512. In fig. 6, the first stripe spacers 611 and the second stripe spacers 612 also intersect each other, but each sub-pixel is surrounded by the surrounding first stripe spacers 611 and second stripe spacers 612. That is, the number of sub-pixels surrounded by the first stripe spacers 511 and the second stripe spacers 512 in the first area 421 and the third area 423 is greater than the number of sub-pixels surrounded by the first stripe spacers 611 and the second stripe spacers 612 in the second area 422. In another angle, the spacer would surround one pixel (including three sub-pixels) in fig. 5, but the spacer would surround each sub-pixel in fig. 6. Because the display has the areas with different bending curvatures under the curved surface, the spacers are designed to have density differences due to the different areas surrounding the pixels, so that the variation of the liquid crystal molecule Gap (Gap) caused by different stress can be better controlled, and the optical problem of the display caused by the curved surface can be improved. In some embodiments, the curvature radius of the curved display may be constant, for example, the curvature radius of each region in the plane may be the same, but the curved display may also face stress phenomenon and gap variation due to bending, so that the distribution ratio of the spacers in the region near the central axis may be designed to be lower than that in the region far from the central axis.

Fig. 7 and 8 are schematic diagrams illustrating the placement of spacers according to some embodiments, only the spacers being illustrated herein for simplicity. In the embodiment of fig. 7, the stripe-shaped spacers 702 and the column-shaped spacers 704 extending along the first direction are included in the first region 421, and the stripe-shaped spacers 712 and the column-shaped spacers 714 extending along the first direction D1 are included in the second region 422, wherein the column-shaped spacers 714 extend from the corresponding stripe-shaped spacers 712, and in other embodiments, the stripe-shaped spacers 712 may be a single stripe-shaped spacers, or the column-shaped spacers 714 and the stripe-shaped spacers 712 are not connected to each other. As shown in fig. 7, the distance between the stripe-shaped spacers 702 is greater than the distance between the stripe-shaped spacers 712, which makes the distribution ratio of the spacers in the first region 421 lower than the distribution ratio of the spacers in the second region 422. In addition, the distribution density of the columnar spacers 704 in the first region 421 is the same as the distribution density of the columnar spacers 714 in the second region 422. Fig. 8 is different from fig. 7 in that fig. 8 further includes stripe-shaped spacers 811 and 812 extending along the second direction, however, the description of the spacers in fig. 8 may refer to fig. 5 and 6, and will not be repeated herein. By arranging the strip-shaped spacers, variation of the gap between the two substrates can be avoided, and further liquid crystal molecules are influenced.

Fig. 9A to 9F are schematic diagrams illustrating the arrangement of the spacers according to some embodiments, wherein the color filters are drawn together to describe the distribution ratio of the spacers, and the axis 410 is located in the middle of the display panel 100 in the second direction D2, and for clarity, the axis 410 is not repeatedly shown in fig. 9B to 9F. Referring to fig. 9A, the spacers in the first region 421 surround the pixels, and the spacers in the second region 422 surround the sub-pixels, which will not be described in detail herein.

Referring to fig. 9B, each 9 sub-pixels in the region 901 is surrounded by a surrounding stripe-shaped spacer, and the 9 sub-pixels are arranged along the second direction D2. Within the region 902, every 3 sub-pixels are surrounded by surrounding stripe-shaped spacers, and the 3 sub-pixels are arranged along the second direction D2. Within region 903, each subpixel is surrounded by a stripe-shaped spacer.

Referring to fig. 9C, in the area 421, every 6 sub-pixels are surrounded by surrounding stripe spacers, and the 6 sub-pixels are arranged in 3 columns (columns) and 2 rows (rows). Within the region 422, every 2 sub-pixels are surrounded by surrounding stripe-shaped spacers, and the 2 sub-pixels are arranged along the first direction D1.

Referring to fig. 9D, in the region 901, every 18 sub-pixels are surrounded by surrounding stripe spacers, and the 18 sub-pixels are arranged in 9 columns and 2 rows. Every 6 sub-pixels are surrounded by surrounding stripe-shaped spacers within the region 902, and the 6 sub-pixels are arranged in 3 columns and 2 rows. Within the region 903, every 2 sub-pixels are surrounded by surrounding stripe-shaped spacers, and the 2 sub-pixels are arranged along the first direction D1.

Referring to fig. 9E, every 12 sub-pixels in the area 421 are surrounded by surrounding stripe-shaped spacers, and the 12 sub-pixels are arranged in 3 columns and 4 rows. Within the region 422, every 4 sub-pixels are surrounded by surrounding stripe-shaped spacers, and the 4 sub-pixels are arranged along the first direction D1.

Referring to fig. 9F, in this embodiment, only the stripe-shaped spacers extending along the first direction D1 are not stripe-shaped spacers extending along the second direction D2. The distance between the stripe spacers in region 901 is 9 sub-pixels, the distance between the stripe spacers in region 902 is 3 sub-pixels, and the distance between the stripe spacers in region 903 is 1 sub-pixel. In this embodiment, the stripe-shaped spacers in different regions along the second direction D2 have different corresponding distances.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but rather, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A display panel having an axis in a first direction and curved with the axis, the display panel having a first region and a second region, the display panel comprising:

The display device comprises a first substrate, a second substrate and a first display device, wherein a data line and a gate line are arranged on the first substrate, and sub-pixels are arranged at the intersection of the data line and the gate line;

a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate; and

A spacer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, the spacer including a plurality of stripe-shaped spacers, wherein at least a portion of the stripe-shaped spacers are disposed in the first region and at least a portion of the stripe-shaped spacers are disposed in the second region,

Wherein the distance between the first region and the axis is smaller than the distance between the second region and the axis, the distance between the strip-shaped spacers in the first region being larger than the distance between the strip-shaped spacers in the second region,

The stripe spacers include a first stripe spacer extending in the first direction and a second stripe spacer extending in a second direction different from the first direction, a distance between the first stripe spacers in the first region is greater than a distance between the first stripe spacers in the second region, a distance between the first stripe spacers in the first region and the second stripe spacers in the second region are the same, the first stripe spacers intersect the second stripe spacers, a number of the sub-pixels surrounded by a portion of the first stripe spacers and a portion of the second stripe spacers in the first region is greater than a number of the sub-pixels surrounded by a portion of the first stripe spacers and a portion of the second stripe spacers in the second region,

The display panel further includes a third region having a distance from the axis greater than a distance from the first region to the axis and greater than a distance from the second region to the axis, the first stripe-shaped spacers within the third region having a distance from each other greater than a distance from each other of the first stripe-shaped spacers within the second region.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein the curved surface has a maximum radius of curvature value R1 and a minimum radius of curvature value R2, wherein the radius of curvature of the first region is equal to or smaller than R1 or equal to or larger than (r1+r2)/2, and the radius of curvature of the second region is equal to or larger than R2 or equal to or smaller than (r1+r2)/2.

3. The display panel of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the sub-pixels constitute a pixel,

A portion of the first stripe-shaped spacers and a portion of the second stripe-shaped spacers surround a plurality of the sub-pixels in the first region,

A portion of the first stripe-shaped spacers and a portion of the second stripe-shaped spacers surround one of the sub-pixels in the second region.

4. The display panel of claim 1, wherein the first stripe-shaped spacers and the second stripe-shaped spacers are abutted against the first substrate and the second substrate.

5. The display panel of claim 1, wherein the spacers further comprise columnar spacers having the same distribution density in both the first region and the second region.

6. The display panel of claim 1, further comprising a black matrix disposed on the second substrate, wherein a projection of a portion of the black matrix on the first substrate overlaps a portion of the stripe-shaped spacers.

7. A display panel having an axis in a first direction and curved with the axis and having a first region, a second region, and a third region, the display panel comprising:

The display device comprises a first substrate, a second substrate and a first display device, wherein a data line and a gate line are arranged on the first substrate, sub-pixels are arranged at the intersection of the data line and the gate line, and a plurality of sub-pixels form a pixel;

a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate; and

A spacer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, the spacer including a plurality of stripe-shaped spacers, wherein at least a portion of the stripe-shaped spacers surrounds one of the pixels and is disposed in the first region and the second region, respectively,

Wherein the stripe spacers include a first stripe spacer extending in the first direction and a second stripe spacer extending in a second direction, the second direction being different from the first direction, the distance between the first area and the second area being the same, the first stripe spacer intersecting the second stripe spacer, the number of sub-pixels surrounded by the first stripe spacer and the second stripe spacer being greater in the first area than in the second area, the distance between the first area and the axis being smaller than the distance between the second area and the axis, the distance between the third area and the axis being greater than the distance between the first area and the axis and greater than the distance between the second area and the axis,

The number of the sub-pixels surrounded by the strip-shaped spacers in the first area and the third area is greater than the number of the sub-pixels surrounded by the strip-shaped spacers in the second area.