Display panel

Abstract

A display panel including a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a pixel structure and an insulation layer is provided. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The pixel structure is disposed on the first substrate and has a reflective area and a transmissive area. The pixel structure includes a reflective layer and a pixel electrode. The reflective layer is located in the reflective area. The pixel electrode is located in the transmissive area. The insulation layer is disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the second substrate, and has a groove located in the transmissive area. The liquid crystal layer has a first portion and a second portion overlapping the groove and a third portion overlapping the reflective layer. The first portion, the second portion and the third portion respectively have a first thickness, a second thickness and a third thickness along a stacking direction of the first substrate and the second substrate. The first thickness and the second thickness are greater than the third thickness, and the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a display technology, and more particularly to a display panel. Prior Technology

[0002] Semi-reflective display panels have secured a place in the market due to their good readability both indoors and outdoors and their energy-saving characteristics. In existing semi-reflective display architectures, display pixels must have reflective and transmissive areas to meet display needs when ambient light is insufficient or excessive. However, there is a significant difference in the optical path length of light within the liquid crystal layer of the reflective and transmissive areas, leading to inconsistencies in display effects (such as display brightness and color performance) and affecting the user's viewing quality. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention provides a display panel with a large process margin and more consistent visual effects in the transmissive and reflective areas.

[0004] The display panel of the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a pixel structure, and an insulating layer. The first substrate and the second substrate are stacked along a first direction. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The pixel structure is disposed on the first substrate and has a reflective region and a transmissive region. The pixel structure includes a reflective layer and a pixel electrode. The reflective layer is located within the reflective region. The pixel electrode is located within the transmissive region. The insulating layer is disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the second substrate and has a groove located within the transmissive region. The liquid crystal layer has a first portion and a second portion overlapping the groove and a third portion overlapping the reflective layer. The first portion, the second portion, and the third portion have a first thickness, a second thickness, and a third thickness, respectively, along the first direction. The first thickness and the second thickness are greater than the third thickness, and the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

[0005] In one embodiment of the present invention, the ratio of the first thickness to the third thickness of the display panel is 2, and the ratio of the second thickness to the third thickness is 1.8.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the recess of the display panel has a first recess portion and a second recess portion that are connected to each other. The first recess portion and the second recess portion have a first depth and a second depth respectively along a first direction, and the first depth is greater than the second depth.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion of the display panel described above each have a first recessed bottom surface and a second recessed bottom surface. The first recessed bottom surface and the second recessed bottom surface are each perpendicular to a first direction. The percentage of the orthogonal projection area of ​​the first recessed bottom surface on the second substrate to the orthogonal projection area of ​​the penetrating area on the second substrate is greater than or equal to 60% and less than or equal to 80%, and the percentage of the orthogonal projection area of ​​the second recessed bottom surface on the second substrate to the orthogonal projection area of ​​the penetrating area on the second substrate is greater than or equal to 20% and less than or equal to 40%.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, a first portion of the liquid crystal layer of the display panel overlaps with a first recessed portion of the groove. A second portion of the liquid crystal layer overlaps with a second recessed portion of the groove.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the insulating layer of the display panel has a first insulating portion overlapping the penetrating area and a second insulating portion overlapping the reflecting area. The first insulating portion overlaps the second recessed portion of the recess. The first insulating portion and the second insulating portion have a first insulating thickness and a second insulating thickness respectively along a first direction, and the first insulating thickness is less than the second insulating thickness.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first groove portion of the groove in the display panel described above penetrates the insulating layer.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first insulating portion of the display panel has a groove bottom surface that defines a second groove portion and overlaps with a second portion of the liquid crystal layer, and the groove bottom surface is perpendicular to the first direction.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the display panel further includes a light filter layer disposed on a second substrate and located between an insulating layer and the second substrate. The light filter layer has a first light filter portion overlapping the second recessed portion and a second light filter portion overlapping the reflective area. The first light filter portion and the second light filter portion have a first light filter thickness and a second light filter thickness respectively along a first direction, and the first light filter thickness is greater than the second light filter thickness.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, both the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion of the display panel penetrate the insulating layer.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first filter portion of the display panel described above has a groove bottom surface that defines a second groove portion and overlaps with a second portion of the liquid crystal layer, and the groove bottom surface is perpendicular to the first direction.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the insulating layer of the display panel has a flat surface located within the reflective area and a bevel surrounding and defining a groove. The angle between the bevel and the virtual extension of the flat surface is less than or equal to 45 degrees.

[0016] Based on the above, in a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid crystal layer has two thicknesses in the transmissive region, and both thicknesses are greater than its thickness in the reflective region. Through this design, even if the thickness of the liquid crystal layer deviates from the design value after the two substrates are assembled, light can still achieve substantial optical path compensation in the transmissive region, thereby improving the visual consistency of the display panel in the reflective and transmissive regions. From another perspective, it can also increase the process margin of the display panel. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0017] Figure 1 is a front view schematic diagram of a display panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the display panel in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a front view schematic diagram of a display panel according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Implementation

[0018] In the accompanying drawings, the thicknesses of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are enlarged for clarity. It should be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being "on" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly on or connected to the other element, or intermediate elements may also be present. Conversely, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" or "directly connected" to another element, no intermediate elements are present. As used herein, "connection" can refer to physical and / or electrical connection. Furthermore, "electrical connection" may mean the presence of other elements between two elements.

[0019] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same element symbols are used in the drawings and description to denote the same or similar parts.

[0020] Figure 1 is a front view of a display panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the display panel of Figure 1. For clarity, Figure 1 only shows a portion of the film layers in Figure 2, and Figure 1 only shows the first insulating portion 220p1 of the insulating layer 220 within the penetration region TA.

[0021] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the display panel 10 includes a first substrate 100, a second substrate 200, and a liquid crystal layer (LCL). The first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200 can be stacked along the Z direction. The liquid crystal layer (LCL) is disposed between the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200. That is, the display panel 10 in this embodiment is a liquid crystal display panel, but it is not limited thereto.

[0022] In this embodiment, the first substrate 100 may be provided with multiple scan lines SL, multiple data lines DL, and multiple pixel structures PX. Each pixel structure PX is electrically connected to one scan line SL and one data line DL. It should be noted that FIG1 only shows one display pixel of the display panel 10, but the display panel 10 may be composed of multiple display pixels arranged together. For example, the multiple data lines DL may be arranged along direction X and each extend in direction Y, and the multiple scan lines SL may be arranged along direction Y and each extend in direction X, wherein direction X is not parallel to direction Y. Direction X may be selectively perpendicular to direction Y, but is not limited thereto. The multiple pixel structures PX may be arranged in multiple rows and columns along directions X and Y, respectively.

[0023] In this embodiment, the pixel structure PX includes an active element T, a common electrode CE, a capacitor electrode CPE, a pixel electrode PE, and a reflective layer RFL. The active element T has a source SE, a drain DE, a gate GE, and a semiconductor pattern SC. The source SE is electrically connected to a corresponding data line DL. The drain DE is electrically connected to the capacitor electrode CPE. The gate GE is electrically connected to a corresponding scan line SL. More specifically, the portion of the scan line SL extending from the pixel structure PX can serve as the gate GE of the active element T, while the portion of the data line DL extending from the pixel structure PX can serve as the source SE of the active element T. The material of the semiconductor pattern SC may include amorphous silicon semiconductor, single-crystal silicon semiconductor, polycrystalline silicon semiconductor, or metal oxide semiconductor. In this embodiment, the active element T is, for example, an amorphous silicon thin film transistor (a-Si TFT), but is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the active element T may also be a polycrystalline silicon TFT (poly-Si TFT) or a metal oxide semiconductor TFT. More specifically, the active element T may be, for example, a low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) thin-film transistor or an indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) thin-film transistor. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the gate GE may be selectively disposed below the semiconductor pattern SC to form a bottom-gate thin-film transistor, but is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the gate GE may also be disposed above the semiconductor pattern SC to form a top-gate thin-film transistor. The capacitor electrode CPE extends from the drain electrode DE and is electrically connected to the pixel electrode PE. It should be noted that the pixel electrode PE is electrically connected to the capacitor electrode CPE via the opening OP of the insulating layer 130 and the contact hole TH of the first passivation layer 121 and the second passivation layer 122.

[0024] In this embodiment, the pixel electrode PE is a light-transmitting electrode. The light-transmitting electrode can be composed of a transparent conductive layer, which includes a transparent conductive material. For example, the material of the light-transmitting electrode includes metal oxides, such as indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, aluminum tin oxide, aluminum zinc oxide, or other suitable oxides, or a stacked layer of at least two of the above. For conductivity considerations, the scan line SL, data line DL, capacitor electrode CPE, common electrode CE, and the source, drain, and gate electrodes GE of the active element T are generally made of metallic materials, but are not limited thereto.

[0025] A common electrode CE is disposed between the capacitor electrode CPE and the first substrate 100, and overlaps the capacitor electrode CPE along the Z direction. Unless otherwise specified below, the overlap relationship between the two components is defined by the Z direction, and the overlap direction will not be described again. In this embodiment, the common electrode CE can be electrically coupled to the capacitor electrode CPE to form a storage capacitor. More specifically, the storage capacitor is formed by the common electrode CE, the capacitor electrode CPE, and an insulating layer 110 located between the common electrode CE and the capacitor electrode CPE.

[0026] First, it should be noted that in this embodiment, the pixel structure PX may have a reflective region RA and a transmissive region TA. The pixel structure PX may also include a reflective layer RFL located within the reflective region RA, and the reflective layers RFL overlap and are electrically connected to the pixel electrode PE. The material of the reflective layer RFL includes, for example, silver, aluminum or other metals with high reflectivity, the aforementioned alloys, or the aforementioned laminated structure. A portion of the pixel electrode PE overlaps with the reflective layer RFL in the reflective region RA, while another portion overlaps with the transmissive region TA. Figure 2 illustrates an example where a portion of the pixel electrode PE is located between the reflective layer RFL and the first substrate 100, but this is not a limitation. In other embodiments, the reflective layer RFL may be located between a portion of the pixel electrode PE and the first substrate 100, and the reflective layer RFL and the pixel electrode PE are electrically connected to each other. From another perspective, the reflective region RA of the pixel structure PX is provided with the reflective layer RFL to reflect light, while the transmissive region TA of the pixel structure PX is provided with the pixel electrode PE (i.e., a light-transmitting electrode) to allow light to pass through.

[0027] When the display panel 10 displays an image, the reflective layer RFL located in the reflective area RA can reflect the ambient light AL to form reflected light REL to display the corresponding image. In the case of insufficient ambient light, a backlight module (not shown in Figure 2, which can be disposed on the side of the first substrate 100 opposite to the liquid crystal layer LCL) can be turned on as an auxiliary light source, and the light from the backlight module can pass through the pixel electrode PE located in the transmissive area TA to form transmissive light TL to display the corresponding image. That is to say, the display panel 10 in this embodiment can be a transflective display panel or a micro-transflective display panel.

[0028] In this embodiment, the scan line SL, the gate GE, and the common electrode CE can be formed on the metal layer ML1 (i.e., the metal layer ML1 may include the scan line SL, the gate GE, and the common electrode CE), while the data line DL, the source electrode SE, the drain electrode DE, and the capacitor electrode CPE can be formed on the metal layer ML2 (i.e., the metal layer ML2 may include the data line DL, the source electrode SE, the drain electrode DE, and the capacitor electrode CPE), but this is not a limitation. Further, the display panel 10 may also include a first passivation layer 121, a second passivation layer 122, and an insulating layer 130. The first passivation layer 121 is disposed between the capacitor electrode CPE (or the metal layer ML2) and the insulating layer 130, and covers the capacitor electrode CPE and the source electrode SE and drain electrode DE of the active element T. The insulating layer 130 is disposed between the first passivation layer 121 and the second passivation layer 122. The insulating layer 130 can serve as a planarization layer to reduce the unevenness of the film layer disposed between the insulating layer 130 and the first substrate 100.

[0029] The insulating layer 130 is, for example, an organic insulating layer, and its material may include polyester, polyolefin, polyacrylic, polycarbonate, polyepoxide, polystyrene, polyether, polyketone, polyol, polyaldehyde, or other suitable materials, or combinations thereof. Therefore, to prevent delamination between the insulating layer 130 and the data lines DL, capacitor electrodes CPE, and the source SE and drain DE of the active element T, this embodiment further provides a first passivation layer 121 between the insulating layer 130 and the underlying metal film layer. The first passivation layer 121 is, for example, an inorganic insulating layer, and its material may include silicon nitride, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, or other suitable insulating materials.

[0030] A pixel electrode PE is disposed on the insulating layer 130. To further improve the adhesion between the insulating layer 130 and the transparent conductive material pixel electrode PE, a second passivation layer 122 may be disposed between the pixel electrode PE and the insulating layer 130 in this embodiment. The second passivation layer 122 is, for example, an inorganic insulating layer, and its material may include silicon nitride, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, or other suitable insulating materials. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the display panel may not have a second passivation layer 122. In this embodiment, the insulating layer 130 has an opening OP overlapping the reflective area RA, while the first passivation layer 121 and the second passivation layer 122 have contact holes TH overlapping the opening OP of the insulating layer 130 (as shown in FIG. 1). The pixel electrode PE may extend into the opening OP of the insulating layer 130 and electrically contact a portion of the capacitor electrode CPE exposed by the contact holes TH of the first passivation layer 121 and the second passivation layer 122.

[0031] Furthermore, the display panel 10 may also include a light filter layer 210, an insulating layer 220, and a common electrode layer CEL disposed on the second substrate 200. The insulating layer 220 is located between the second substrate 200 and the liquid crystal layer LCL. The insulating layer 220 covers the light filter layer 210, that is, the light filter layer 210 is located between the insulating layer 220 and the second substrate 200. In this embodiment, the material of the insulating layer 220 may be similar to the material of the insulating layer 130, but is not limited thereto. The common electrode layer CEL is disposed between the insulating layer 220 and the liquid crystal layer LCL. That is, the insulating layer 220 is located between the common electrode layer CEL and the second substrate 200. In other embodiments not shown, the common electrode layer CEL may be disposed on the first substrate 100 and located between the first substrate 100 and the liquid crystal layer LCL. The common electrode layer CEL overlaps the reflective region RA and the transmissive region TA. The material of the common electrode layer CEL may include a transparent conductive material, which may include, for example, metal oxides (e.g., indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, aluminum tin oxide, aluminum zinc oxide, or other suitable oxides, or a stacked layer of at least two of the above), but is not limited thereto. For example, the electric field formed between the pixel electrode PE and the common electrode layer CEL can control the orientation of liquid crystal molecules (not shown) in the liquid crystal layer LCL to display the corresponding image. In this embodiment, the common electrode layer CEL and the common electrode CE may receive a common voltage, but are not limited thereto.

[0032] In this embodiment, the insulating layer 220 on the second substrate 200 has a groove GV located within the transmissive region TA. Therefore, the liquid crystal layer LCL can have different thicknesses in the transmissive region TA and the reflective region RA. It is particularly noteworthy that the liquid crystal layer LCL can have two different thicknesses in the transmissive region TA. That is, the liquid crystal layer LCL in this embodiment can have approximately three different thicknesses between the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200.

[0033] For example, the groove GV located within the penetration region TA may have a first groove portion GVp1 and a second groove portion GVp2 that are connected. The first groove portion GVp1 and the second groove portion GVp2 have a first depth dt1 and a second depth dt2 along the Z direction, respectively, and the first depth dt1 is greater than the second depth dt2. For example, the groove GV of the insulating layer 220 may be obtained by photolithography of the insulating material layer using a halftone mask, but is not limited to this.

[0034] From another perspective, the liquid crystal layer (LCL) has a first portion LCLp1 overlapping the first groove portion GVp1, a second portion LCLp2 overlapping the second groove portion GVp2, and a third portion LCLp3 overlapping the reflective layer RFL. The first portion LCLp1, the second portion LCLp2, and the third portion LCLp3 of the liquid crystal layer LCL have a first thickness t1, a second thickness t2, and a third thickness t3, respectively, along the stacking direction (e.g., direction Z) of the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200, wherein the first thickness t1 and the second thickness t2 are greater than the third thickness t3, and the first thickness t1 is greater than the second thickness t2. Preferably, the ratio of the first thickness t1 to the third thickness t3 can be 2, and the ratio of the second thickness t2 to the third thickness t3 can be 1.8.

[0035] Since the light propagation path from the incident reflection area RA to the exit reflection area RA passes through the liquid crystal layer LCL twice, while the light incident on the transmission area TA only passes through the liquid crystal layer LCL once, to avoid a significant difference in the optical path length between the reflective area RA and the transmission area TA within the liquid crystal layer LCL, the groove GV design of the insulating layer 220 allows the first thickness t1 and the second thickness t2 of the liquid crystal layer LCL in the transmission area TA to be greater than its third thickness t3 in the reflective area RA, thereby increasing the optical path length within the transmission area TA. This effectively reduces the difference in optical path length between the reflective area RA and the transmission area TA within the liquid crystal layer LCL (for example, making the optical path length of the light in the reflective area RA approximately the same as that in the transmission area TA), contributing to improved consistency in the display effect of the display panel 10 between the reflective area RA and the transmission area TA.

[0036] Furthermore, because the liquid crystal layer (LCL) has two different thicknesses (i.e., a first thickness t1 and a second thickness t2) within the transmissive region TA, even if the thickness of the LCL deviates from the design value after the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200 are assembled, the transmitted light TL can still achieve substantial optical path compensation within the transmissive region TA. For example, if the ratio of the first thickness t1 to the third thickness t3 is greater than 2 due to process variations, the ratio of the second thickness t2 to the third thickness t3 will be greater than 1.8 and closer to 2. Thus, compared to the first portion LCLp1 of the LCL, its second portion LCLp2 can provide more ideal optical path compensation for the light passing through the transmissive region TA. In other words, by designing two thicknesses for the LCL in the transmissive region TA, the process flexibility of the display panel 10 during assembly can be increased.

[0037] On the other hand, since the first part LCLp1 is still the main part of the liquid crystal layer LCL that provides optical path compensation for the transmitted light TL through the transmission region TA, the ratio of the orthogonal projection area of ​​the first part LCLp1 (or the first groove portion GVp1 of the groove GV) on the first substrate 100 to the orthogonal projection area of ​​the transmission region TA on the first substrate 100 is greater than the ratio of the orthogonal projection area of ​​the second part LCLp2 (or the second groove portion GVp2 of the groove GV) on the first substrate 100 to the orthogonal projection area of ​​the transmission region TA on the first substrate 100.

[0038] More specifically, the first groove portion GVp1 and the second groove portion GVp2 of the groove GV each have a groove bottom surface BS1 and a groove bottom surface BS2, wherein the groove bottom surface BS1 and the groove bottom surface BS2 are each perpendicular to the direction Z. Preferably, the percentage of the orthographic projection area of ​​the groove bottom surface BS1 of the first groove portion GVp1 of the groove GV on the second substrate 200 to the orthographic projection area of ​​the penetration region TA on the second substrate 200 is greater than or equal to 60% and less than or equal to 80%, while the percentage of the orthographic projection area of ​​the groove bottom surface BS2 of the second groove portion GVp2 of the groove GV on the second substrate 200 to the orthographic projection area of ​​the penetration region TA on the second substrate 200 is greater than or equal to 20% and less than or equal to 40%.

[0039] Further, the insulating layer 220 has a first insulating portion 220p1 overlapping the transmissive region TA and a second insulating portion 220p2 overlapping the reflective region RA. The first insulating portion 220p1 overlaps the second recessed portion GVp2 of the recess GV and has a recess bottom surface BS2 defining the second recessed portion GVp2 and overlapping the second portion LCLp2 of the liquid crystal layer LCL. The first insulating portion 220p1 and the second insulating portion 220p2 have a first insulating thickness 220t1 and a second insulating thickness 220t2 respectively along the Z direction, and the first insulating thickness 220t1 is smaller than the second insulating thickness 220t2. In this embodiment, the first recessed portion GVp1 of the recess GV can penetrate the insulating layer 220, and the portion of the filter layer 210 exposed by the first recessed portion GVp1 has a recess bottom surface BS1 defining the first recessed portion GVp1. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments not shown, the first recessed portion of the groove may not penetrate the insulating layer. That is, the insulating layer also has a portion that overlaps the first groove portion, and the thickness of the portion is less than the first insulation thickness 220t1 and the second insulation thickness 220t2.

[0040] It should be noted that the recessed groove (GV) causes significant topographic undulations on one side of the liquid crystal layer (LCL) in the insulating layer 220 and the film layer formed behind it (e.g., the common electrode layer CEL). This results in unpredictable liquid crystal molecule alignment near the edge of the recessed groove (GV), leading to light leakage and affecting the dark state of the display. Therefore, the angle A between the inclined surface IS of the insulating layer 220 surrounding and defining the recessed groove (GV) and the virtual extension surface VES of its flat surface FS located within the reflective region RA can be less than or equal to 45 degrees to reduce the influence of the GV's topography on the liquid crystal alignment and thus improve the aforementioned light leakage problem.

[0041] The following examples illustrate this disclosure in detail, wherein the same components will be labeled with the same symbols, and descriptions of the same technical content will be omitted. For the omitted parts, please refer to the foregoing examples, which will not be repeated below.

[0042] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 3, the difference between the display panel 10A of this embodiment and the display panel 10 of Figure 2 is that the configuration of the second recessed portion is different. Specifically, in this embodiment, the filter layer 210A has a first filter portion 210p1 overlapping the second recessed portion GVp2 and a second filter portion 210p2 overlapping the reflective region RA. The first filter portion 210p1 and the second filter portion 210p2 have a first filter thickness 210t1 and a second filter thickness 210t2 respectively along the Z direction, and the first filter thickness 210t1 is greater than the second filter thickness 210t2.

[0043] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the first filter portion 210p1 of the filter layer 210A has a second groove portion GVp2 defining a groove GV and overlaps the bottom surface BS2 of the groove of the second portion LCLp2 of the liquid crystal layer LCL. That is, both the first groove portion GVp1 and the second groove portion GVp2 of the groove GV penetrate the insulating layer 220A in this embodiment. Therefore, in this embodiment, the filter layer 210A can be obtained by performing a photolithography process on the filter material layer using a halftone photomask, and the process of the insulating layer 220A does not require the use of a halftone photomask, but it is not limited thereto.

[0044] From another perspective, the second depth dt2 of the second groove portion GVp2 in this embodiment is defined by the first filter thickness 210t1 of the first filter portion 210p1 of the filter layer 210A. Therefore, in addition to achieving the effect of optical path compensation, it is also possible to adjust the chromaticity of the display panel 10A in the transmittance region TA.

[0045] Figure 4 is a front view schematic diagram of a display panel according to a third embodiment of the present invention. For clarity, Figure 4 only shows the portion of the insulating layer 220B within the penetrating region TA. Referring to Figure 4, the difference between the display panel 10B of this embodiment and the display panel 10 of Figure 1 lies only in the distribution of the first insulating portion of the insulating layer within the penetrating region TA. Specifically, in the display panel 10B of this embodiment, the insulating layer 220B may have two first insulating portions 220p1” in the penetrating region TA, and these two first insulating portions 220p1” are arranged at intervals along the direction Y.

[0046] In other words, in this embodiment, the grooves of the insulating layer 220B may have two second groove portions (not shown) that overlap the two first insulating portions 220p1” respectively, and two first groove portions (not shown) that penetrate the insulating layer 220B, and the two second groove portions and the two first groove portions may be arranged alternately along the Y direction. This design allows for a more uniform light distribution in the transmission zone TA of the light whose optical path is compensated (the transmitted light TL as shown in FIG. 2), thereby further improving the visual quality of the display panel 10B in the transmission zone TA. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The number and distribution of the first insulating portions of the insulating layer in the transmission zone TA can be adjusted according to actual application requirements.

[0047] It should be understood that, in another embodiment not shown, the first filter portion 210p1 of the filter layer 210A in FIG3 may also adopt the configuration of the first insulating portion 220p1” in this embodiment within the transmittance region TA. That is, the first filter portion 210p1 in FIG3 can be divided into two parts, and these two parts are arranged alternately within the transmittance region TA. Accordingly, the color uniformity of the display panel in the transmittance region TA can be further improved.

[0048] In summary, in a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid crystal layer has two thicknesses in the transmissive region, both of which are greater than its thickness in the reflective region. Through this design, even if the thickness of the liquid crystal layer deviates from the design value after the two substrates are assembled, light can still achieve substantial optical path compensation in the transmissive region, thereby improving the visual consistency of the display panel in the reflective and transmissive regions. From another perspective, it also increases the process margin of the display panel.

[0049] 10, 10A, 10B: Display panels 100: First substrate 110, 130, 220, 220A, 220B: Insulation layer 121: First passivation layer 122: Second passivation layer 200: Second substrate 210, 210A: Filter layers 210p1: First filter section 210p2: Second filter section 210t1: First filter thickness 210t2: Second filter thickness 220p1, 220p1”: First insulation part 220p2: Second insulation section 220t1: First insulation thickness 220t2: Second insulation thickness A: Angle AL: Ambient Light BS1, BS2, BS2”: Bottom surface of the groove CE: Common electrode CEL: Common Electrode Layer CPE: Capacitor Electrode DE: drain DL: Data Line dt1: First depth dt2: Second depth FS: Flat surface GE: Gate GV: Groove GVp1: First groove portion GVp2: Second groove section IS: Incline LCL: Liquid Crystal Layer LCLp1: Part 1 LCLp2: Part Two LCLp3: Part Three ML1, ML2: Metal layers OP: Open PE: pixel electrode PX: Pixel Structure RA: Reflection Zone REL: Reflected light RFL: Reflective layer SC: Semiconductor Pattern SE: Source SL: Scan line T: Active component TA: Penetration Zone TH: Contact Hole TL: Transmitting light t1: First thickness t2: Second thickness t3: Third thickness VES: Virtual Extension Surface X, Y, Z: Direction

Claims

1. A display panel, comprising: The first substrate and the second substrate are stacked along a first direction; A liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; A pixel structure is disposed on the first substrate and has a reflective area and a transmissive area. The pixel structure includes: a reflective layer located in the reflective area; a pixel electrode located in the transmissive area; and an insulating layer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the second substrate and having a groove located in the transmissive area. The liquid crystal layer has a first portion and a second portion overlapping the groove and a third portion overlapping the reflective layer. The first portion, the second portion, and the third portion have a first thickness, a second thickness, and a third thickness respectively along the first direction. The first thickness and the second thickness are greater than the third thickness, and the first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The groove has a first groove portion and a second groove portion that are connected. The first groove portion and the second groove portion have a first depth and a second depth respectively along the first direction, and the first depth is greater than the second depth.

2. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first thickness to the third thickness is 2, and the ratio of the second thickness to the third thickness is 1.

8.

3. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion respectively have a first recessed bottom surface and a second recessed bottom surface, the first recessed bottom surface and the second recessed bottom surface are each perpendicular to the first direction, the percentage of the orthogonal projection area of ​​the first recessed bottom surface on the second substrate to the orthogonal projection area of ​​the penetrating area on the second substrate is greater than or equal to 60% and less than or equal to 80%, and the percentage of the orthogonal projection area of ​​the second recessed bottom surface on the second substrate to the orthogonal projection area of ​​the penetrating area on the second substrate is greater than or equal to 20% and less than or equal to 40%.

4. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first portion of the liquid crystal layer overlaps the first recess portion of the recess, and the second portion of the liquid crystal layer overlaps the second recess portion of the recess.

5. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulating layer has a first insulating portion overlapping the penetrating region and a second insulating portion overlapping the reflecting region, the first insulating portion overlapping the second recessed portion of the recess, the first insulating portion and the second insulating portion having a first insulating thickness and a second insulating thickness respectively along the first direction, and the first insulating thickness being less than the second insulating thickness.

6. The display panel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first recessed portion of the recess penetrates the insulating layer.

7. The display panel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first insulating portion has a groove bottom surface that defines the second groove portion and overlaps the second portion of the liquid crystal layer, and the groove bottom surface is perpendicular to the first direction.

8. The display panel as described in claim 1, further comprising: A filter layer is disposed on the second substrate and located between the insulating layer and the second substrate. The filter layer has a first filter portion overlapping the second groove portion and a second filter portion overlapping the reflective area. The first filter portion and the second filter portion have a first filter thickness and a second filter thickness respectively along the first direction, and the first filter thickness is greater than the second filter thickness.

9. The display panel as claimed in claim 8, wherein both the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion penetrate the insulating layer.

10. The display panel as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first filter portion has a groove bottom surface that defines the second groove portion and overlaps the second portion of the liquid crystal layer, and the groove bottom surface is perpendicular to the first direction.

11. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulating layer has a flat surface located within the reflective area and a ramp surrounding and defining the groove, and the angle between the ramp and a virtual extension of the flat surface is less than or equal to 45 degrees.

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