Display panel and preparation method thereof

Abstract

The application belongs to the technical field of display driving, and particularly relates to a display panel and a preparation method thereof. The display panel comprises an electrostatic protection structure, the electrostatic protection structure comprises a grounding electrode configured to be electrically connected with a ground signal; a water storage assembly configured to adsorb and store water vapor in the environment; and an electrostatic driving assembly configured to: in response to electrostatic charges in the first light-emitting unit and / or the second light-emitting unit, generate a conduction channel, make the water vapor stored in the water storage assembly at least partially enter the conduction channel, and form a discharge path of the electrostatic charges to the grounding electrode. Through the synergistic effect of the grounding electrode, the water storage assembly and the electrostatic driving assembly, the application realizes electrostatic protection, forms an automatic recovery intelligent protection mechanism, and improves the anti-static ability, long-term reliability and service life of an OLED display product.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure belongs to the field of display driving technology, specifically relating to a display panel and its manufacturing method. Background Technology

[0002] OLED (organic light emitting diode) has become the mainstream technology in the high-end display field due to its excellent characteristics such as self-emission, high contrast, and flexibility. However, the core organic functional layers of OLED, such as the light-emitting layer and hole transport layer, usually have extremely high insulation resistance, which makes them prone to static charge generation due to friction and induction during production, module assembly, and even daily use.

[0003] However, the OLED pixel structure of related technologies lacks conductive paths, and the substrate itself is insulated. The accumulated static charge cannot be discharged in time, which will form a high electric field in a local area. This can easily lead to dielectric breakdown of the organic functional layer or electrode damage, causing pixel dark spots, brightness decay or complete failure, thereby affecting the reliability and lifespan of OLED products.

[0004] Therefore, how to achieve electrostatic discharge in the OLED pixel structure has become an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a display panel and its manufacturing method. Through the synergistic effect of the grounding electrode, water storage component and electrostatic driving component, this application achieves electrostatic protection while forming an intelligent protection mechanism for automatic recovery, thereby improving the anti-static capability, long-term reliability and service life of OLED display products.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a display panel, the display panel including at least a first light-emitting unit and a second light-emitting unit spaced apart, and an electrostatic protection structure disposed between the first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting unit, the electrostatic protection structure including: a grounding electrode configured to be electrically connected to ground; a water storage component disposed above the grounding electrode and configured to adsorb and store water vapor in the environment; and an electrostatic driving component disposed in contact with the water storage component and in contact with the first light-emitting unit and / or the second light-emitting unit, configured to: generate a conductive channel in response to the electrostatic charge in the first light-emitting unit and / or the second light-emitting unit, so that at least part of the water vapor stored in the water storage component enters the conductive channel to form a discharge path of the electrostatic charge to the grounding electrode.

[0007] Optionally, there is a gap between the cathode of the first light-emitting unit and the cathode of the second light-emitting unit; the water storage component has a first end and a second end that are disposed opposite to each other; wherein, the first end of the water storage component is disposed opposite to the gap in the vertical direction, and the second end of the water storage component is disposed in contact with the grounding electrode.

[0008] Optionally, the water storage component includes: a first water storage element and a second water storage element connected vertically; the first water storage element is located above the second water storage element, the top end of the first water storage element serves as the first end of the water storage component, and the bottom end of the second water storage element serves as the second end of the water storage component; wherein, the width of the top end of the second water storage element is greater than the width of the bottom end of the second water storage element, and both sides of the second water storage element are in contact with the electrostatic drive component.

[0009] Optionally, the water storage component comprises a polymer material having a microporous structure.

[0010] Optionally, the electrostatic drive assembly includes: a first drive member and a second drive member, respectively disposed on both sides of the second water storage member; one side of each drive member contacts the side of the second water storage member, and the other side contacts the side of the light-emitting layer of the corresponding light-emitting unit; wherein the top surface of the light-emitting layer, the top surface of the first drive member, the top surface of the second drive member, and the top of the second water storage member are located on the same horizontal plane.

[0011] Optionally, the first driving member and the second driving member comprise a dielectric elastomer material.

[0012] Optionally, the display panel further includes a substrate, and the electrostatic protection structure further includes: a first insulating layer disposed on the substrate, the grounding electrode disposed within the first insulating layer, so that the grounding electrode is mutually insulated from the anode of the first light-emitting unit and the anode of the second light-emitting unit; a second insulating layer disposed above the electrostatic driving assembly, and the first water storage component disposed within the second insulating layer.

[0013] Secondly, this application provides a method for manufacturing a display panel, the method comprising: providing a substrate; forming a plurality of spaced-apart anodes on the substrate, and forming an electrostatic protection structure in the spacer region between two adjacent anodes; forming a light-emitting layer on the anodes, wherein the light-emitting layer covers the anodes and extends to contact an electrostatic drive component of the electrostatic protection structure, and the upper surface of the light-emitting layer is lower than the upper surface of the electrostatic protection structure; forming a plurality of spaced-apart cathodes on the light-emitting layer and the electrostatic protection structure; and forming an encapsulation structure on the cathodes to obtain the display panel.

[0014] Optionally, when the electrostatic protection structure includes a first insulating layer, a grounding electrode, a water storage component, an electrostatic drive component, and a second insulating layer, the preparation of the electrostatic protection structure includes: forming a plurality of spaced anodes on the substrate, while forming the grounding electrode in the spacer region between two adjacent anodes; coating the substrate with an insulating material to form a first insulating layer; wherein the upper surface of the first insulating layer and the upper surface of the grounding electrode are located on the same horizontal plane; coating the first insulating layer and the grounding electrode with a dielectric elastomer material to form an electrostatic drive component; wherein the electrostatic drive component has an opening exposing the grounding electrode; coating the opening and the electrostatic drive component with a polymer material, and then patterning it to form the water storage component; wherein the first end of the water storage component is higher than the upper surface of the electrostatic drive component; coating the electrostatic drive component with an insulating material to form a second insulating layer; wherein the upper surface of the second insulating layer and the first end of the water storage component are located on the same horizontal plane.

[0015] Optionally, the water storage component includes a first water storage element and a second water storage element; the water storage component is formed by coating a polymer material inside the opening and on the electrostatic drive component, and then patterning it, including: forming a second water storage element by coating a polymer material inside the opening; wherein the width of the top end of the second water storage element is greater than the width of the bottom end of the second water storage element, and the top end of the second water storage element is located on the same horizontal plane as the upper surface of the electrostatic drive component; the polymer material is then coated again on the electrostatic drive component and the second water storage element, and then etched to form the first water storage element; wherein the top end of the first water storage element serves as the first end of the water storage component.

[0016] The technical solution provided in this application has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0017] This application provides a grounding discharge channel for static charges accumulated within pixels by setting an electrostatic protection structure composed of a grounding electrode, a water storage component, and an electrostatic drive component between adjacent light-emitting units. Specifically, the water storage component adsorbs and stores water vapor from the environment, providing a conductive medium for the discharge process; the electrostatic drive component deforms in response to static charges, forming a conductive channel, allowing the water vapor stored in the water storage component to enter the channel, significantly improving the local conductivity, thereby quickly and safely guiding the static charges to the grounding electrode for discharge, effectively eliminating the risk of electrostatic breakdown.

[0018] Furthermore, this application utilizes the reversible deformation characteristics of the electrostatic drive component to enable the conductive channel to automatically close after the electrostatic charge is discharged. At least part of the water vapor entering the channel returns to the water storage component for re-storage, realizing a self-recovering cycle of the electrostatic protection structure. This not only avoids the failure problem of traditional disposable protection structures but also makes full use of the existing water vapor resources inside the device, without relying on externally added conductive materials. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure. It is obvious that the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this disclosure, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any inventive effort.

[0020] Figure 1 The figure shown is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an electrostatic protection structure provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0021] Figure 2 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of a display panel related to this technology.

[0022] Figure 3 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of a display panel provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0023] Figure 4 The diagram shown is a schematic diagram of an electrostatic protection structure provided in this application during the water vapor accumulation stage.

[0024] Figure 5 The diagram shown is a schematic diagram of an electrostatic protection structure provided in this application during the electrostatic triggering stage.

[0025] Figure 6 The diagram shown is a schematic diagram of an electrostatic protection structure provided in this application during the channel formation stage.

[0026] Figure 7 The diagram shown is a schematic diagram of an electrostatic protection structure provided in this application during the electrostatic discharge stage.

[0027] Figure 8 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of an electrostatic protection structure in the recovery process according to an embodiment of this application.

[0028] Figure 9 The diagram shown is a flowchart illustrating a method for preparing an electrostatic protection structure according to an embodiment of this application.

[0029] Figure 10 The diagram shown is a schematic diagram of forming a grounding electrode and a first insulating layer according to an embodiment of this application.

[0030] Figure 11 The diagram shown is a schematic diagram of coating a dielectric elastomer material on a first insulating layer and a grounding electrode according to an embodiment of this application.

[0031] Figure 12 The diagram shown is a schematic diagram of forming an electrostatic drive component according to an embodiment of this application.

[0032] Figure 13 The diagram shown is a schematic diagram of coating a polymer material inside an opening and on an electrostatic drive assembly according to an embodiment of this application.

[0033] Figure 14 The diagram shown is a schematic diagram of a water storage component provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0034] Figure 15 The diagram shown is a schematic diagram of forming a second insulating layer on an electrostatic drive assembly according to an embodiment of this application.

[0035] Figure 16 The diagram shown is a flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing a display panel according to an embodiment of this application.

[0036] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0037] 10. Display panel;

[0038] 100. Electrostatic protection structure; 110. Grounding electrode; 120. Water storage component; 121. First water storage element; 122. Second water storage element; 130. Electrostatic drive component; 131. First drive element; 132. Second drive element; 140. First insulating layer; 150. Second insulating layer;

[0039] 210, First light-emitting unit; 211, First anode; 212, First light-emitting layer; 213, First cathode; 220, Second light-emitting unit; 221, Second anode; 222, Second light-emitting layer; 223, Second cathode; 300, Organic isolation pillar; 400, Substrate; 500, Full-surface cathode; 600, Encapsulation structure; 610, First inorganic encapsulation layer; 620, Organic buffer layer; 630, Second inorganic encapsulation layer. Detailed Implementation

[0040] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided to make this application more comprehensive and complete, and to fully convey the concept of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art.

[0041] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Numerous specific details are provided in the following description to give a thorough understanding of embodiments of this application. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the technical solutions of this application can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or other methods, components, apparatuses, steps, etc., can be employed. In other instances, well-known methods, apparatuses, implementations, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of this application.

[0042] The present application will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that the technical features involved in the various embodiments described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present application, and should not be construed as limiting the present application.

[0043] The pixel structure of an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) typically includes an anode, an organic light-emitting functional layer, and a cathode. The light-emitting layer and related hole and electron transport layers are mostly made of high-resistivity insulating organic materials. This material characteristic makes OLED devices highly susceptible to static charge accumulation within the pixels due to friction or induction during manufacturing, handling, and end-use. Because the pixel display area lacks an inherent conductive discharge path, and the substrate (such as glass or polyimide) itself is insulating, the accumulated static charge cannot be eliminated in time, easily forming extremely high electric field strengths locally. This electric field may exceed the dielectric strength of the organic functional layer, causing dielectric breakdown and permanently damaging the light-emitting layer or electrodes. This manifests as pixel dark spots, brightness decay, or overall failure, severely compromising the reliability and lifespan of the display product.

[0044] Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, this application provides an electrostatic protection structure 100, which specifically includes the following embodiments:

[0045] Figure 1 The diagram shown is a cross-sectional view of the first electrostatic protection structure 100 provided in this application embodiment; as shown Figure 1As shown, the electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structure 100 of this embodiment is applied to the display panel 10. The display panel 10 includes at least a first light-emitting unit 210 and a second light-emitting unit 220 arranged adjacent to each other. The ESD protection structure 100 is disposed between the first light-emitting unit 210 and the second light-emitting unit 220. Specifically, in a typical RGB pixel arrangement display panel, the first light-emitting unit 210 can be any sub-pixel of red, green, and blue, and the second light-emitting unit 220 is another sub-pixel with a different color from the first light-emitting unit 210; that is, the ESD protection structure 100 is located, for example, in the gap area between the red and green sub-pixels; however, this gap area is usually occupied by organic isolation pillars 300, such as... Figure 2 As shown, a common flexible OLED display structure includes a light-emitting layer and a full-surface cathode 500 above the anode, with organic isolation pillars 300 separating the anodes. Above the cathode, an encapsulation structure 600 is formed by a first inorganic encapsulation layer 610 + an organic buffer layer 620 + a second inorganic encapsulation layer 630. However, in this application, the electrostatic discharge protection structure 100 of this embodiment can replace the organic isolation pillars 300, or as shown... Figure 3 As shown, it is integrated in the organic isolation column 300.

[0046] like Figure 1 As shown, the electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structure 100 of this embodiment includes a grounding electrode 110, which is configured to be electrically connected to a ground signal. The grounding electrode 110 is an electrode layer made of a conductive material (such as the same ITO, IZO, or metal as the anode), disposed in the bottom region of the ESD protection structure 100, and electrically connected to the ground signal, providing a low-resistance path for static electricity to ultimately dissipate to the ground. Furthermore, the grounding electrode 110 is disposed in the same layer as the anode of the light-emitting unit but is insulated from it. It can be formed in the same deposition step using the same material as the anode to simplify the process. Its thickness is comparable to that of the anode (approximately 1000~2000 angstroms), and its width matches that of the water storage component 120 above it (approximately 0.5~2 μm).

[0047] like Figure 1 As shown, the electrostatic protection structure 100 of this embodiment also includes a water storage component 120, disposed above the grounding electrode 110, configured to adsorb and store water vapor in the environment; specifically, the water storage component 120, disposed above the grounding electrode 110, is a functional unit for adsorbing and storing water vapor in the environment. The water storage component 120 comprises a polymer material with a microporous structure (such as microporous polyethylene), with a pore size of approximately 0.1~2.0 μm. These micropores allow water vapor molecules to pass through and be stored, but block liquid water (water droplet diameter is typically >100 µm), achieving waterproof and breathable operation.

[0048] like Figure 1As shown, the electrostatic protection structure 100 of this embodiment also includes an electrostatic drive component 130, which is disposed in contact with the water storage component 120 and in contact with the first light-emitting unit 210 and / or the second light-emitting unit 220. It is configured to generate a conductive channel in response to the electrostatic charge in the first light-emitting unit 210 and / or the second light-emitting unit 220, so that at least part of the water vapor stored in the water storage component 120 enters the conductive channel to form a discharge path of electrostatic charge to the grounding electrode 110.

[0049] It should be noted that the electrostatic drive component 130 is in contact with the water storage component 120 and with the first light-emitting unit 210 and / or the second light-emitting unit 220. The core material of the electrostatic drive component 130 is a dielectric elastomer (such as silicone rubber, acrylic elastomer, polyurethane, etc.), and the core principle is electrostatic actuation: when there is voltage accumulation on both sides of the electrostatic drive component 130, positive and negative charges generate electrostatic force, which compresses and thins the middle insulating elastic layer, thereby producing deformation; the dielectric elastomer layer, as an insulating and elastically deformable medium, undergoes significant deformation under the action of electrostatic force. The characteristics of dielectric elastomer materials are that they need high dielectric constant, high elasticity, and low modulus.

[0050] In this embodiment, the electrostatic drive component 130 generates a conductive channel in response to the static charge accumulated in the light-emitting unit. Specifically, when the electrostatic drive component 130 senses static charge in the area directly in contact with the side of the light-emitting layer, a potential difference is established between the two sides of the component, generating an electrostatic force. This electrostatic force compresses and thins the dielectric elastomer layer, deforming its internal structure, thereby forming or opening a conductive channel through which water vapor can pass. Then, the water vapor stored in the water storage component 120 enters at least partially into the conductive channel under the drive of a concentration difference or pressure difference. After entering, the water vapor dissociates into H under the action of an electric field. + and OH - Ions, or the formation of a continuous water film, significantly increase the local conductivity of the originally insulated conductive channel area, allowing static charges to be quickly and safely discharged to the ground through the conductive channel and grounding electrode 110.

[0051] In this embodiment, the electrostatic protection structure 100, through the coordinated operation of the grounding electrode 110, the water storage component 120, and the electrostatic drive component 130, forms an electrostatic discharge path between the light-emitting units. Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 The working principle of the electrostatic protection structure 100 is explained as follows:

[0052] (1) Moisture accumulation stage: During the normal operation of the display panel 10, moisture that permeates into the encapsulation layer and moisture that is adsorbed by the panel itself are captured and stored by the microporous structure of the water storage component 120, providing a conductive medium for subsequent electrostatic discharge; such as Figure 4 As shown, the black dots in the water storage component 120 represent the stored water vapor.

[0053] (2) Electrostatic triggering stage: When the first light-emitting unit 210 and / or the second light-emitting unit 220 accumulate static charge due to friction, induction, etc., since the electrostatic driving component 130 is in direct contact with the side of the light-emitting layer, the accumulated static charge is induced by the electrostatic driving component 130, and a potential difference is established on both sides of the electrostatic driving component 130, generating electrostatic force, such as Figure 5 The lightning bolt symbol shown.

[0054] (3) Channel Formation Stage: Under the action of electrostatic force, the dielectric elastomer material in the electrostatic drive component 130 undergoes deformation (such as being compressed or thinned), and the originally closed microporous structure inside transforms into open pores or forms new through channels. This deformation process generates conductive channels, such as... Figure 6 As shown, the hollow dots in the electrostatic drive component 130 represent open holes, and multiple open holes connected together form a conductive channel; at the same time, after the conductive channel is formed, the water vapor stored in the water storage component 120 enters the conductive channel at least partially under the drive of concentration difference or pressure difference.

[0055] (4) Static discharge stage: After water vapor enters, it dissociates into H under the action of the electric field. + and OH - Ions, or the formation of a continuous water film, significantly increase the local conductivity of the originally insulated conductive channel region. At this point, a low-resistance discharge path is formed: such as... Figure 7 As shown, the static charge accumulated in the light-emitting unit → electrostatic drive component 130 (water vapor conduction area) → water storage component 120 → ground electrode 110 → ground signal, thereby enabling the static charge to be quickly and safely discharged to the ground, and the pixel potential to return to a safe level.

[0056] (5) Recovery phase: such as Figure 8 As shown, after the static charge is discharged, the potential difference across the electrostatic drive component 130 disappears, and the electrostatic force is removed. The dielectric elastomer recovers its deformation through its own elasticity, and the conductive channel closes; the water vapor that entered the conductive channel is squeezed out, and at least part of it returns to the water storage component 120 for re-storage. The system returns to its initial state and waits for the next electrostatic event.

[0057] In summary, this application provides a grounding discharge channel for static charges accumulated within pixels by setting an electrostatic protection structure 100, composed of a grounding electrode 110, a water storage component 120, and an electrostatic drive component 130, between adjacent light-emitting units. Specifically, the water storage component 120 adsorbs and stores water vapor from the environment, providing a conductive medium for the discharge process; the electrostatic drive component 130 deforms in response to static charges, forming a conductive channel, allowing the water vapor stored in the water storage component 120 to enter this channel, significantly improving the local conductivity, thereby quickly and safely guiding the static charges to the grounding electrode 110 for discharge, effectively eliminating the risk of electrostatic breakdown.

[0058] Furthermore, this application utilizes the reversible deformation characteristics of the electrostatic drive component 130 to enable the conductive channel to automatically close after the electrostatic charge is discharged. At least part of the water vapor entering the channel returns to the water storage component 120 for re-storage, thus realizing the self-recovering cycle of the electrostatic protection structure 100. This not only avoids the failure problem of traditional disposable protection structures but also makes full use of the existing water vapor resources inside the device, without relying on externally added conductive materials.

[0059] Therefore, through the synergistic effect of the grounding electrode 110, the water storage component 120 and the electrostatic drive component 130, this application achieves electrostatic protection while also forming an intelligent protection mechanism for automatic recovery, thereby improving the anti-static capability, long-term reliability and service life of OLED display products.

[0060] like Figure 3 As shown, there is a gap between the first cathode 213 of the first light-emitting unit 210 and the second cathode 223 of the second light-emitting unit 220; the water storage component 120 has a first end and a second end that are arranged opposite to each other; wherein, the first end of the water storage component 120 and the gap are arranged opposite to each other in the vertical direction, and the second end of the water storage component 120 is in contact with the grounding electrode 110.

[0061] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the cathodes of adjacent light-emitting units do not continuously cover the entire display area, but are spaced apart to form a gap, such as... Figure 3 As shown. In conventional OLED devices, the entire cathode 500 typically serves as a common electrode covering all pixels continuously, such as... Figure 2 As shown. However, in this embodiment, the cathode is intentionally disconnected in the area above the corresponding water storage component 120 to form a gap; the setting of this gap has a dual function: (1) to provide a physical channel for water vapor that permeates in the encapsulation layer to enter the water storage component 120; (2) to avoid direct contact between the cathode and the water storage component 120, and to prevent short circuits or leakage during normal display.

[0062] The water storage component 120 in this embodiment has two ends in the vertical direction; the first end is the top end of the water storage component 120, facing the light-emitting side of the display panel 10 or the direction of the encapsulation layer; the second end is the bottom end of the water storage component 120, facing the substrate 400 and contacting the ground electrode 110. This structure design with two ends makes the water storage component 120 a bridge connecting the upper water vapor source and the lower ground electrode 110.

[0063] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the gap between the top end (i.e., the first end) of the water storage component 120 and the cathode is aligned or opposite in the vertical direction. That is, when viewed from the vertical projection direction, the first end of the water storage component 120 is located directly below the cathode gap, ensuring that water vapor permeating in the encapsulation layer can pass through the cathode gap and directly enter the water storage component 120 for adsorption and storage. The bottom end (i.e., the second end) of the water storage component 120 is in direct physical contact with the grounding electrode 110, realizing the electrical connection between the water storage component 120 and the grounding electrode 110. This allows the conductive path formed by water vapor conduction to extend smoothly from the water storage component 120 to the grounding electrode 110 during subsequent electrostatic discharge, ultimately guiding the static charge to ground.

[0064] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, the water storage component 120 is divided into two vertically connected components: a first water storage component 121 and a second water storage component 122. This layered structure design enables the water storage component 120 to perform different functions: the first water storage component 121 is mainly used to dock with the cathode gap and receive water vapor from the encapsulation layer; the second water storage component 122 is mainly used to contact the electrostatic drive component 130 and connect to the grounding electrode 110 below.

[0065] Optionally, the first water storage component 121 is located above the second water storage component 122. The top end of the first water storage component 121 serves as the first end of the water storage assembly 120, thereby being vertically opposite to the gap between it and the cathode. The bottom end of the second water storage component 122 serves as the second end of the water storage assembly 120, thereby being in contact with the grounding electrode 110. This stacked structure enables the water storage assembly 120 to form a continuous water vapor transmission channel in the vertical direction: water vapor enters from the first end, passes through the first water storage component 121 and the second water storage component 122, and finally reaches the contact interface between the second end and the grounding electrode 110.

[0066] Optionally, the width of the top of the second water storage component 122 is greater than the width of the bottom of the second water storage component 122, and the two sides of the second water storage component 122 are in contact with the electrostatic drive assembly 130; specifically, the top of the second water storage component 122 (the end closer to the first water storage component 121) is wider, and the bottom (the end closer to the grounding electrode 110) is narrower, forming an overall trapezoidal or inverted trapezoidal structure. This design, which is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, has the following effects: (1) The top is wider, providing a larger contact area for connection with the first water storage component 121; (2) The bottom is narrower, achieving reliable contact with the grounding electrode 110 within the limited bottom space; (3) The inclined slopes on both sides increase the contact area with the electrostatic drive assembly 130, improve the water vapor transmission efficiency, and thus improve the electrostatic discharge rate.

[0067] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the electrostatic drive assembly 130 includes two independent first drive members 131 and second drive members 132, which are respectively disposed on both sides of the second water storage member 122. That is, the first drive member 131 is close to the first light-emitting unit 210 and is mainly responsible for sensing the static charge accumulated in the first light-emitting unit 210; the second drive member 132 is close to the second light-emitting unit 220 and is mainly responsible for sensing the static charge accumulated in the second light-emitting unit 220. While ensuring that no matter which light-emitting unit generates static electricity, it can be quickly responded to by the drive member on the nearest side, the lateral space between the light-emitting units is fully utilized, and the space utilization rate is maximized.

[0068] Optionally, in this embodiment, one side of each driving member is in contact with the side of the second water storage member 122. When the driving member is deformed due to electrostatic force and forms a conductive channel, water vapor enters the conductive channel of the driving member from the second water storage member 122 through the contacting side.

[0069] Optionally, in this embodiment, the other side (i.e., the outer side) of each driving element is in direct contact with the side of the light-emitting layer of the corresponding light-emitting unit. That is, the outer side of the first driving element 131 is in contact with the side of the light-emitting layer of the first light-emitting unit 210, and the outer side of the second driving element 132 is in contact with the side of the light-emitting layer of the second light-emitting unit 220. This ensures the directionality of electrostatic induction: the first driving element 131 primarily senses the charge of the first light-emitting unit 210, and the second driving element 132 primarily senses the charge of the second light-emitting unit 220, avoiding chaotic responses caused by cross-induction. The direct contact design allows the electrostatic charge accumulated on the side of the light-emitting layer to enter the driving element through the interface, establishing a potential difference on both sides of the driving element, thereby triggering deformation.

[0070] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the top surfaces of the light-emitting layer, the first driving member 131, the second driving member 132, and the top of the second water storage member 122 are located on the same horizontal plane. Specifically, in this embodiment, the top surface of the driving member is designed to be flush with the top surface of the light-emitting layer, meaning that the vertical extension range of the driving member exactly covers the entire side of the light-emitting layer, allowing all sidewalls of the light-emitting layer from bottom to top to contact the driving member, maximizing the charge induction area. Folding the top surfaces of the driving member and the water storage member to the top surface of the light-emitting layer allows the cathode to be formed on a relatively flat surface, improving the continuity and reliability of the cathode. During fabrication, the flush top surfaces of multiple components mean that the height of multiple areas can be controlled using a mask of the same height or the same process step, reducing process complexity. The flush top surfaces ensure that the deformation area of ​​the electrostatic drive assembly 130 in the vertical direction corresponds perfectly in height to the charge accumulation area of ​​the light-emitting layer, resulting in a more uniform and controllable electric field distribution generated by electrostatic induction.

[0071] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the display panel 10 of this embodiment also includes a substrate 400, and the electrostatic protection structure 100 further includes: a first insulating layer 140 disposed on the substrate 400, and a grounding electrode 110 disposed in the first insulating layer 140 so that the grounding electrode 110 is mutually insulated from the anode of the first light-emitting unit 210 and the anode of the second light-emitting unit 220.

[0072] It should be noted that the first insulating layer 140 is an insulating dielectric layer formed on the substrate 400. Corresponding to the bottom part of the electrostatic protection structure 100, the grounding electrode 110 is disposed inside the first insulating layer 140 and is covered by insulating material. Only its top surface is exposed for contact with the water storage component 120. This allows the grounding electrode 110 and the anode to be in the same plane without direct contact. The two are isolated by the insulating material in the first insulating layer 140, ensuring the reliability of electrical insulation. In addition, after the grounding electrode 110 is embedded in the first insulating layer 140, its upper surface can be made flush with the surface of the first insulating layer 140 through a planarization process, providing a flat substrate for the formation of the electrostatic drive component 130 above.

[0073] In one embodiment, the electrostatic protection structure 100 further includes: a second insulating layer 150 disposed above the electrostatic drive assembly 130, and a first water storage component 121 disposed within the second insulating layer 150.

[0074] It should be noted that the second insulating layer 150 is an insulating dielectric layer formed above the electrostatic drive assembly 130, corresponding to the top portion of the electrostatic protection structure 100. The first water storage component 121 is disposed inside the second insulating layer 150 and is covered by insulating material, with only its top exposed to be perpendicular to the cathode gap. This allows the second insulating layer 150 to provide mechanical protection and electrical encapsulation for the electrostatic drive assembly 130 and the water storage assembly 120, preventing damage from subsequent processes. In addition, by embedding the first water storage component 121 into the insulating layer, water vapor can only enter the water storage assembly 120 through the exposed top, avoiding disorderly lateral diffusion.

[0075] like Figure 3 As shown, this embodiment provides a display panel 10, which includes a substrate 400, a plurality of light-emitting units spaced apart on the substrate 400, and at least one electrostatic protection structure 100 as shown in the above embodiment; wherein, the electrostatic protection structure 100 is disposed on the substrate 400 between two adjacent light-emitting units; the electrostatic driving component 130 of the electrostatic protection structure 100 is in contact with the light-emitting layer of the adjacent light-emitting unit.

[0076] It should be noted that the working principle of the display panel 10 in this embodiment has been explained in the electrostatic protection structure 100 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0077] Figure 9 The diagram shown is a flowchart illustrating a method for preparing an electrostatic protection structure 100 according to an embodiment of this application; as shown Figure 9 As shown, the preparation method in this embodiment specifically includes the following steps:

[0078] Step S110: Provide a substrate 400 and prepare a ground electrode 110 on the substrate 400.

[0079] Specifically, when multiple spaced anodes are formed on the substrate 400, a ground electrode 110 is simultaneously formed in the spacer region between two adjacent anodes. The ground electrode 110 is made of the same material as the anode (such as ITO, IZO, or metal), formed in the same deposition step, and patterned to insulate it from the anode. This design using the same material in the same layer allows the ground electrode 110 to be fabricated without adding an additional photolithography layer, simplifying the process flow.

[0080] Step S120: Coating an insulating material onto the substrate 400 to form a first insulating layer 140.

[0081] Specifically, an insulating material (such as polyimide or acrylic resin) is coated onto the substrate 400, and after curing, a first insulating layer 140 is formed. Subsequently, a chemical mechanical polishing or etching process is used to bring the upper surface of the first insulating layer 140 to the same horizontal plane as the upper surface of the grounding electrode 110, such as... Figure 10 As shown, this planarization process provides a flat substrate for the subsequent formation of the electrostatic drive component 130, ensuring uniform thickness of each film layer.

[0082] Step S130: Coating dielectric elastomer material onto the first insulating layer 140 and the grounding electrode 110 to form an electrostatic drive assembly 130.

[0083] Specifically, a dielectric elastomer material (such as silicone rubber, acrylic elastomer, or polyurethane) is coated on the flat surfaces of the first insulating layer 140 and the grounding electrode 110. Figure 11 As shown; an electrostatic drive assembly 130 is formed after patterning. An opening is formed in the electrostatic drive assembly 130 to expose the lower ground electrode 110, as shown... Figure 12 This opening is used for the subsequent connection of the water storage component 120 to the grounding electrode 110.

[0084] Step S140: Coating the opening and the electrostatic drive assembly 130 with polymer material, and then patterning it to form a water storage assembly 120.

[0085] Specifically, such as Figure 13 As shown, a polymer material with a microporous structure (such as microporous polyethylene) is coated inside the opening and on the electrostatic drive assembly 130, and after patterning, it forms a shape like... Figure 14 The water storage component 120 is shown. The process parameters are controlled so that the first end (top) of the water storage component 120 is higher than the upper surface of the electrostatic drive component 130, ensuring the vertical correspondence with the cathode gap in the future.

[0086] In one embodiment, the water storage assembly 120 includes a first water storage element 121 and a second water storage element 122; the process of coating the opening and the electrostatic drive assembly 130 with a polymer material, and then patterning it to form the water storage assembly 120, specifically includes the following steps:

[0087] Step S141: Form a coated polymer material inside the opening to form a second water storage component 122.

[0088] Specifically, a polymer material is coated inside the opening, and after patterning, a second water reservoir 122 is formed. By controlling the exposure and etching processes, the second water reservoir 122 is made into a trapezoidal structure that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, meaning the width of the top of the second water reservoir 122 is greater than the width of the bottom. Simultaneously, the top of the second water reservoir 122 is aligned with the upper surface of the electrostatic drive assembly 130 to ensure reliable contact with the electrostatic drive assembly 130. The two sloping surfaces of the second water reservoir 122 will be used to form a large-area contact with the electrostatic drive assembly 130.

[0089] Step S142: Coat the electrostatic drive assembly 130 and the second water storage component 122 with polymer material again, and form the first water storage component 121 after etching.

[0090] Specifically, a polymer material is coated again on the electrostatic drive assembly 130 and the second water storage component 122, and after etching, a first water storage component 121 is formed. The first water storage component 121 is located above the second water storage component 122, and the two are vertically connected. The top of the first water storage component 121 serves as the first end of the water storage assembly 120, and its height is controlled to be higher than the upper surface of the electrostatic drive assembly 130 so that it is perpendicular to the cathode gap later. At this point, the water storage component consisting of upper and lower parts is completed.

[0091] Step S150: Coat the electrostatic drive assembly 130 with insulating material to form a second insulating layer 150.

[0092] Specifically, such as Figure 15 As shown, an insulating material is coated onto the electrostatic drive assembly 130 to form a second insulating layer 150. Through thickness control or an etching process, the upper surface of the second insulating layer 150 is made to be at the same level as the first end of the water storage assembly 120. This height control ensures that the subsequently formed light-emitting layer can make full contact with the side of the electrostatic drive assembly 130, while also creating conditions for the formation of the cathode gap.

[0093] The method for preparing the electrostatic protection structure 100 provided in this embodiment has the following technical effects:

[0094] (1) This embodiment adopts mature processes and equipment in the field of OLED panel manufacturing. The ground electrode 110 and the anode are formed in the same deposition step. The first insulating layer 140 and the second insulating layer 150 are fully compatible with the conventional pixel definition layer process. No new special equipment or complex processes are required, and the industrialization barrier is extremely low.

[0095] (2) By forming the ground electrode 110 at the same time as the anode, the two key structures are combined into one; by multiple planarization processes, the surfaces of each layer are made flush, providing a flat substrate for subsequent film layers, which is easy to control the process and improve the yield.

[0096] (3) The contact relationship between the electrostatic drive component 130 and the light-emitting layer, and the vertical correspondence between the water storage component 120 and the cathode gap, are all self-aligned through the natural sequence of process steps, avoiding the precision limit and yield loss of multi-layer photolithography alignment, and significantly improving product consistency.

[0097] (4) By controlling the exposure etching process, the second water storage component 122 naturally forms a trapezoidal structure that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. Its two inclined surfaces form a large area of ​​contact with the electrostatic drive component 130. The contact interface can be maximized in one patterning step, thereby improving the electrostatic response sensitivity.

[0098] (5) In this embodiment, the grounding electrode 110, the electrostatic drive component 130, and the water storage component 120 can be precisely integrated into the pixel isolation column. Each component has a clear function and works together to achieve a complete functional closed loop of electrostatic induction, water vapor conduction, charge discharge, and reversible circulation in a limited space.

[0099] Figure 16 The diagram shown is a flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing a display panel 10 according to an embodiment of this application; as follows: Figure 16 As shown, the preparation method in this embodiment specifically includes the following steps:

[0100] Step S210: Provide substrate 400.

[0101] Specifically, this step can use a transparent glass substrate 400 or a flexible polyimide (PI) substrate 400 for cleaning, drying and surface treatment to remove contaminants and improve film adhesion, providing a clean, flat and stable support base for all subsequent film deposition and patterning processes.

[0102] Step S220: A plurality of spaced anodes are formed on the substrate 400, and an electrostatic protection structure 100 is prepared in the spacer region between two adjacent anodes.

[0103] It should be noted that this step can use sputtering or evaporation processes to deposit a transparent conductive oxide (such as ITO, IZO) or metal / oxide composite layer on the surface of substrate 400, coat it with photoresist, and then expose, develop, and etch to form multiple anode patterns arranged in an array. Anode 230 is the anode of the OLED device, and each anode 230 corresponds to the light-emitting area of ​​a sub-pixel.

[0104] Multiple spaced anodes are formed on the substrate 400. Simultaneously, in the spacer region between two adjacent anodes, an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structure 100 is fabricated according to steps S110 to S150 described above. The anodes and grounding electrode 110 are formed in the same process step and are mutually insulated. The other parts of the ESD protection structure 100 are then fabricated sequentially.

[0105] Step S230: Form a light-emitting layer on the anode.

[0106] It should be noted that an organic light-emitting material is vapor-deposited onto the anode and the electrostatic protection structure 100 to form a light-emitting layer. The light-emitting layer covers the anode surface and naturally extends to contact the side of the electrostatic drive component 130 of the electrostatic protection structure 100. By controlling the vapor deposition process, the upper surface of the light-emitting layer is made lower than the upper surface of the electrostatic protection structure 100 (i.e., lower than the upper surface of the second insulating layer 150), ensuring sufficient contact between the electrostatic drive component 130 and the side of the light-emitting layer, while leaving space for the subsequent formation of the cathode.

[0107] Step S240: A plurality of spaced cathodes are formed on the light-emitting layer and the electrostatic protection structure 100.

[0108] Specifically, cathode material is deposited on the light-emitting layer and the electrostatic protection structure 100, and multiple spaced cathodes are formed by patterning. The patterning process of the cathodes is controlled so that a gap is formed between the cathode of the first light-emitting unit 210 and the cathode of the second light-emitting unit 220, and this gap is vertically opposite to the first end of the water storage assembly 120. At the same time, it is ensured that an appropriate distance is maintained between the cathodes and the water storage assembly 120 to avoid direct contact.

[0109] Step S250: Form an encapsulation structure on the cathode to obtain the display panel 10.

[0110] Specifically, this step can employ plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) or atomic layer deposition (ALD) to sequentially deposit a first inorganic encapsulation layer 610 (e.g., SiNx), an organic buffer layer 620 (e.g., acrylic resin), and a second inorganic encapsulation layer 630 (e.g., SiNx) on the cathode, forming a thin-film encapsulation structure 600. The encapsulation structure covers the entire display area, and moisture within it can enter the water storage component 120 through the cathode gap and be adsorbed and stored, serving as a reserve medium for subsequent electrostatic discharge. Thus, the desired result is obtained... Figure 3 The display panel 10 shown.

[0111] This embodiment integrates the fabrication process of the electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structure 100 into the fabrication method of the display panel, achieving a technical effect comparable to that of the aforementioned ESD protection structure, which will not be elaborated upon here. Therefore, the fabrication method of the display panel 10 protected in this embodiment achieves device-level integration of ESD protection functionality with minimal process change costs.

[0112] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first," "second," or "third" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0113] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "some embodiments," "exemplarily," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. The illustrative expressions of the above terms in this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in a suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0114] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting this application. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of this application. Therefore, any changes or modifications made in accordance with the claims and description of this application should fall within the scope of this patent application.

Claims

1. A display panel, characterized in that, The display panel includes at least a first light-emitting unit and a second light-emitting unit spaced apart, and an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structure disposed between the first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting unit, the ESD protection structure comprising: The grounding electrode is configured to be electrically connected to the ground signal; A water storage component, disposed above the grounding electrode, is configured to adsorb and store water vapor from the environment; An electrostatic drive component, which is disposed in contact with the water storage component and in contact with the first light-emitting unit and / or the second light-emitting unit, is configured to generate a conductive channel in response to the electrostatic charge in the first light-emitting unit and / or the second light-emitting unit, so that at least part of the water vapor stored in the water storage component enters the conductive channel to form a discharge path of the electrostatic charge to the grounding electrode. The generation of a conductive channel in response to the electrostatic charge in the first light-emitting unit and / or the second light-emitting unit includes: the electrostatic charge in the first light-emitting unit and / or the second light-emitting unit generates an electrostatic force on the electrostatic drive assembly, and the dielectric elastomer material in the electrostatic drive assembly deforms under the action of the electrostatic force, so that the internal closed microporous structure is transformed into an open hole or a new through channel is formed, thereby generating the conductive channel.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, There is a gap between the cathode of the first light-emitting unit and the cathode of the second light-emitting unit; the water storage component has a first end and a second end that are disposed opposite to each other; wherein, the first end of the water storage component is disposed opposite to the gap in the vertical direction, and the second end of the water storage component is disposed in contact with the grounding electrode.

3. The display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that, The water storage assembly includes: a first water storage component and a second water storage component connected vertically; the first water storage component is located above the second water storage component, the top end of the first water storage component serves as the first end of the water storage assembly, and the bottom end of the second water storage component serves as the second end of the water storage assembly. The top of the second water storage component is wider than the bottom of the second water storage component, and both sides of the second water storage component are in contact with the electrostatic drive assembly.

4. The display panel according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The water storage component comprises a polymer material with a microporous structure.

5. The display panel according to claim 3, characterized in that, The electrostatic drive assembly includes: The first driving member and the second driving member are respectively disposed on both sides of the second water storage member; one side of each driving member is in contact with the side of the second water storage member, and the other side is in contact with the side of the light-emitting layer of the corresponding light-emitting unit. The top surface of the light-emitting layer, the top surface of the first driving member, the top surface of the second driving member, and the top of the second water storage member are located on the same horizontal plane.

6. The display panel according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first driving member and the second driving member comprise dielectric elastomer material.

7. The display panel according to claim 5, characterized in that, The display panel further includes a substrate, and the electrostatic protection structure further includes: A first insulating layer is disposed on the substrate, and a grounding electrode is disposed within the first insulating layer so that the grounding electrode is insulated from the anode of the first light-emitting unit and the anode of the second light-emitting unit. A second insulating layer is disposed above the electrostatic drive assembly, and the first water storage component is disposed within the second insulating layer.

8. A method for manufacturing a display panel, characterized in that, Applied to the display panel according to any one of claims 1-7, the manufacturing method comprises: Provide substrate; A plurality of spaced anodes are formed on the substrate, and an electrostatic protection structure is prepared in the spacer region between two adjacent anodes; A light-emitting layer is formed on the anode, wherein the light-emitting layer covers the anode and extends to contact the electrostatic drive component of the electrostatic protection structure, and the upper surface of the light-emitting layer is lower than the upper surface of the electrostatic protection structure; Multiple spaced cathodes are formed on the light-emitting layer and the electrostatic protection structure; An encapsulation structure is formed on the cathode to obtain the display panel.

9. The preparation method according to claim 8, characterized in that, When the electrostatic protection structure includes a first insulating layer, a grounding electrode, a water storage component, an electrostatic driving component, and a second insulating layer, the preparation of the electrostatic protection structure includes: While forming a plurality of spaced anodes on the substrate, the ground electrode is formed in the spacer region between two adjacent anodes; An insulating material is coated on the substrate to form a first insulating layer; wherein the upper surface of the first insulating layer and the upper surface of the grounding electrode are located on the same horizontal plane; A dielectric elastomer material is coated on the first insulating layer and the grounding electrode to form an electrostatic drive assembly; wherein the electrostatic drive assembly has an opening that exposes the grounding electrode; A polymer material is coated inside the opening and on the electrostatic drive assembly, and then patterned to form the water storage assembly; wherein, the first end of the water storage assembly is higher than the upper surface of the electrostatic drive assembly; An insulating material is coated onto the electrostatic drive assembly to form a second insulating layer; wherein the upper surface of the second insulating layer and the first end of the water storage assembly are located on the same horizontal plane.

10. The preparation method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The water storage assembly includes a first water storage element and a second water storage element; a polymer material is coated inside the opening and on the electrostatic drive assembly, and the water storage assembly is formed after patterning, including: A polymer coating material is formed inside the opening to form a second water storage component; wherein the width of the top end of the second water storage component is greater than the width of the bottom end of the second water storage component, and the top end of the second water storage component is located on the same horizontal plane as the upper surface of the electrostatic drive assembly. A polymer material is coated again on the electrostatic drive assembly and the second water storage component, and then etched to form the first water storage component; wherein, the top of the first water storage component serves as the first end of the water storage assembly.

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