Display panel and display device

Abstract

A display panel defines a display area for displaying an image and a light-transmitting area surrounded by the display area. The display panel includes an array substrate, a color filter substrate, and a liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer is disposed to align with the display area and the light-transmitting area. The regions of the thin-film transistor array layer, the black matrix, and the color filter layer that align with the light-transmitting area are all removed. The liquid crystal amount of the liquid crystal layer makes the region of the first substrate corresponding to the light-transmitting area flush with the region corresponding to the display area, and the region of the second substrate corresponding to the light-transmitting area flush with the region corresponding to the display area. A display device applying the above display panel is also provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of display technologies, and in particular, to a display panel and a display device using the display panel. Background Art

[0002] With the development of display technologies, display devices with extremely high screen-to-body ratios are becoming increasingly popular among users. In current display devices, a dedicated area needs to be set on the border to place a camera module, and through holes corresponding to the camera module are provided on the display panel. The camera module penetrates the display panel and is located within the through holes. However, since such display devices must open through holes on the display panel to place the camera module, the screen-to-body ratio of the screen is inevitably limited, affecting the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0003] On the one hand, the present invention provides a display panel. The display panel defines a display area for displaying images. The display panel includes an array substrate and a color filter substrate disposed opposite to each other, and a liquid crystal layer located between the color filter substrate and the array substrate;

[0004] The display panel defines a light-transmitting area surrounded by the display area;

[0005] The liquid crystal layer is aligned with the display area and the light-transmitting area;

[0006] The color filter substrate includes a transparent first substrate, a black matrix, and a color filter layer located on a side of the first substrate close to the liquid crystal layer. The array substrate includes a transparent second substrate and a thin film transistor array layer located on a side of the second substrate close to the liquid crystal layer. Areas of the thin film transistor array layer, the black matrix, and the color filter layer that are aligned with the light-transmitting area are all removed;

[0007] The liquid crystal amount of the liquid crystal layer makes the area of the first substrate corresponding to the light-transmitting area flush with the area corresponding to the display area, and the area of the second substrate corresponding to the light-transmitting area flush with the area corresponding to the display area.

[0008] The above display panel defines a light-transmitting area surrounded by the display area, enabling the camera module included in the display device using the display panel to collect image information through the light-transmitting area, without the need to open through holes on the display panel to set up a dedicated area for placing the camera module, thereby improving the screen-to-body ratio of the display device using the display panel.

[0009] On the other hand, the present invention further provides a display device, which includes:

[0010] The above display panel;

[0011] a backlight module, the backlight module being located at a side of the display panel away from the display surface thereof, the backlight module being defined with a mounting hole penetrating the backlight module, the mounting hole being aligned with the light-transmitting area; and

[0012] A camera module is installed in the installation hole and collects image information through the light-transmitting area.

[0013] The above-mentioned display device includes a display panel that defines a light-transmitting area surrounded by a display area. The camera module can collect image information through the light-transmitting area without opening a through hole on the display panel to set up a special area for placing the camera module, thereby improving the screen-to-body ratio of the display device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 The figure is a top view of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 3 FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 5 FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Main component symbols

[0020] Display device 100, 200, 300, 400

[0021] Display Area AA

[0022] Border area NA

[0023] Light transmission area A1

[0024] Display panel 10

[0025] Display surface 10a

[0026] Color filter substrate 11

[0027] The first substrate 111

[0028] Black Matrix 112

[0029] Color filter layer 113

[0030] Transparent protective layer 114

[0031] Array substrate 12

[0032] Second substrate 121

[0033] First insulating layer 122

[0034] Second insulating layer 123

[0035] Liquid crystal layer 13

[0036] First alignment layer 14

[0037] Second alignment layer 15

[0038] First spacer 16

[0039] Second spacer 17

[0040] First polarizer 18

[0041] First through hole 181

[0042] Second polarizer 19

[0043] Second through hole 191

[0044] Camera module 20

[0045] Backlight module 30

[0046] Mounting hole 31

[0047] The following specific embodiments will further illustrate the present invention in conjunction with the above-mentioned drawings. Specific embodiments

[0048] Unless otherwise defined, the technical terms or scientific terms used in this application shall have the ordinary meanings understood by those skilled in the art. The terms "first", "second", "third", "fourth", "fifth" and similar words used in the specification and claims of this application do not indicate any order, quantity or importance, but are only used to distinguish different components. Thus, the features defined with "first", "second", "third", "fourth", "fifth" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of such features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise stated, the meaning of "a plurality" is two or more.

[0049] The orientation terms such as "left", "right", "up" and "down" are defined relative to the orientation of the display panel or display device shown in the drawings. It should be understood that these directional terms are relative concepts, which are used for relative description and clarification, and they may change accordingly with the change of the orientation of the display panel or display device.

[0050] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a display panel 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the display panel 10 is defined with a display area AA for displaying an image, a light-transmitting area A1 surrounded by the display area AA, and a continuous border area NA surrounding the display area AA. The light-transmitting area A1 is not adjacent to the border area NA. It can be understood that the display area AA is defined with a plurality of pixels, each pixel including at least a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, and a blue sub-pixel. The light-transmitting area A1 is transparent to allow external light to enter, and the light-transmitting area A1 is not used for image display. The position of the border area NA can be used for wiring, or for placing a gate drive circuit. The display panel 10 may also not include the border area NA to achieve a borderless design.

[0051] Figure 1 In the embodiment, the light-transmitting area A1 is circular and is approximately located at the left side of the display panel 10 along the width direction. It can be understood that the shape and position of the light-transmitting area A1 are not limited thereto. For example, the light-transmitting area A1 can be rectangular and is approximately located in the middle of the display panel 10 along the width direction.

[0052] Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 As shown, the display device 100 includes a display panel 10, a backlight module 30 and a camera module 20. The backlight module 30 is located on the side of the display panel 10 away from its display surface 10a, and is used to provide backlight for the display panel 10 for image display. The backlight module 30 is defined with a through mounting hole 31. The mounting hole 31 is aligned with the light-transmitting area A1. The camera module 20 is installed in the mounting hole 31. External light is incident on the lens of the camera module 20 through the light-transmitting area A1. The camera module 20 collects image information through the light-transmitting area A1. In this way, there is no need to open a through hole on the display panel 10 to set up a special area for placing the camera module 20, thereby improving the screen-to-body ratio of the display device 100.

[0053] In one embodiment, the backlight module 30 may be an edge-type backlight module or a direct-type backlight module.

[0054] Please continue reading Figure 2 The display panel 10 includes a color filter substrate 11, an array substrate 12 and a liquid crystal layer 13. The array substrate 12 is arranged opposite to the color filter substrate 11. The liquid crystal layer 13 is located between the color filter substrate 11 and the array substrate 12, and is aligned with the display area AA and the light transmission area A1.

[0055] The display panel 10 further includes a first polarizer 18 located on the side of the color filter substrate 11 away from the array substrate 12, and a second polarizer 19 located on the side of the array substrate 12 away from the color filter substrate 11. The first polarizer 18 is defined with a through first through hole 181, and the second polarizer 19 is defined with a through second through hole 191. The first through hole 181 and the second through hole 191 are both aligned with the light transmissive area A1 to reduce the color shift phenomenon.

[0056] The display panel 10 further includes a first alignment layer 14 located between the color filter substrate 11 and the liquid crystal layer 13 and a second alignment layer 15 located between the array substrate 12 and the liquid crystal layer 13. The first alignment layer 14 and the second alignment layer 15 are both aligned with the display area AA and the light transmissive area A1. The first alignment layer 14 and the second alignment layer 15 can be polyimide (PI).

[0057] To maintain the gap between the color filter substrate 11 and the array substrate 12, the display panel 10 further includes a plurality of first spacers 16 (Photo Spacer, PS) aligned with the display area AA. One end of the first spacer 16 is fixedly provided on the first alignment layer 14, and the other end extends toward the second alignment layer 15 without contacting the second alignment layer 15. The first spacer 16 is columnar.

[0058] The color filter substrate 11 includes a transparent first substrate 111, a black matrix 112, a color filter layer 113, and a transparent protective layer 114. The first substrate 111 is, for example, glass. The color filter layer 113, for example, includes a red filter layer in the red sub-pixel region, a green filter layer in the green sub-pixel region, and a blue filter layer in the blue sub-pixel region. The black matrix 112 is located between adjacent sub-pixels to prevent crosstalk of the primary color light emitted by adjacent sub-pixels.

[0059] Both the black matrix 112 and the color filter layer 113 are located on the surface of the first substrate 111 close to the liquid crystal layer 13 and are both aligned with the display area AA. The black matrix 112 and the color filter layer 113 are not provided in the area aligned with the light transmissive area A1. The transparent protective layer 114 is aligned with the display area AA and the light transmissive area A1. The transparent protective layer 114 covers the black matrix 112 and the color filter layer 113. That is, in the area aligned with the light transmissive area A1, only the transparent protective layer 114 remains on the first substrate 111 of the color filter substrate 11.

[0060] In the manufacturing process, the black matrix 112 and the color filter layer 113 can be formed on the first substrate 111 by aligning the display area AA and the light-transmitting area A1. Then, the black matrix 112 and the color filter layer 113 in the light-transmitting area A1 are removed through a mask. Next, the transparent protective layer 114 is coated by aligning the display area AA and the light-transmitting area A1. Since the black matrix 112 and the color filter layer 113 in the light-transmitting area A1 have been removed, the portion of the transparent protective layer 114 aligned with the light-transmitting area A1 is recessed in the direction towards the first substrate 111 (away from the array substrate 12) compared to the portion aligned with the display area AA. That is, the height of the transparent protective layer 114 in the light-transmitting area A1 is lower than the height of the transparent protective layer 114 in the display area AA.

[0061] The array substrate 12 includes a transparent second substrate 121, a first insulating layer 122 disposed on one side of the second substrate 121 facing the liquid crystal layer 13, and a second insulating layer 123 located on the side of the first insulating layer 122 away from the second substrate 121. The second substrate 121 is, for example, glass. The first insulating layer 122 is disposed by aligning the display area AA and the light-transmitting area A1, and the first insulating layer 122 can be an organic material layer. The second insulating layer 123 is disposed by aligning the display area AA, and the second insulating layer 123 can be a silicon nitride layer and a silicon oxide layer.

[0062] A thin film transistor array layer (not shown in the figure) is further provided between the first insulating layer 122 and the second insulating layer 123. The thin film transistor layer includes, for example, a gate layer, a gate insulating layer, an active layer, and a source-drain layer. In order to prevent the thin film transistor layer from affecting the light intensity collected by the camera of the imaging module 20, the thin film transistor layer is disposed by aligning the display area AA. That is, no thin film transistor array layer is disposed by aligning the light-transmitting area A1. That is, only the first insulating layer 122 remains on the second substrate 121 by aligning the light-transmitting area A1. In the manufacturing process, the second insulating layer 123 in the light-transmitting area A1 can be removed through a mask.

[0063] It can be understood that a pixel electrode and a common electrode are further provided on the display panel 10 by aligning the display area AA. Under the action of an electric field, the pixel electrode and the common electrode layer cooperate to drive the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 13 to rotate for image display.

[0064] In the display panel 10, by aligning the light-transmitting area A1, only the transparent protective layer 114, the first alignment layer 14, the liquid crystal layer 13, the second alignment layer 15, and the first insulating layer 122 remain between the first substrate 111 and the second substrate 121, and the light transmittance is high and the color is low.

[0065] Furthermore, in the process of implementing this application, the inventors of this application found that since most of the structures (such as the black matrix 112, the color filter layer 113, the second insulating layer 123, and the thin film transistor array layer) are removed due to aligning with the light-transmitting area A1, it will cause the light-transmitting area A1, the first substrate 111, the transparent protective layer 114 located on the first substrate 111, and the first alignment layer 14 to sink towards the liquid crystal layer 13. The second substrate 121 and the first insulating layer 122, the second insulating layer 123, and the second alignment layer 15 located on the second substrate 121 also sink towards the liquid crystal layer 13. That is, the display panel 10 will form a concave lens at the position of the light-transmitting area A1, which affects the imaging of the lens of the camera module 20. Therefore, in this application, a design for improving the depression of the display panel 10 in the light-transmitting area A1 is also included to ensure the imaging effect of the lens of the camera module 20.

[0066] Generally, the liquid crystal display panel 10 can adopt the method of injecting liquid crystal between glass substrates (i.e., the first substrate 111 and the second substrate 121). As the ambient temperature rises or falls, materials such as glass substrates and liquid crystal will expand or contract. Since the thermal expansion coefficient of liquid crystal is much larger than that of other components in the liquid crystal cell assembly such as glass substrates, this will cause problems.

[0067] On the one hand, under high-temperature conditions, the thermal expansion of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal display panel 10 is significantly greater than that of other components, resulting in an increase in the cell thickness of the liquid crystal cell assembly. The spacers cannot expand thermally to the corresponding extent, and it is easy to cause the liquid crystal in the vertically placed liquid crystal display panel 10 to flow downward as a whole due to the action of gravity. This is the so-called defect of gravity mura at high temperatures. On the other hand, when the liquid crystal display panel 10 is in a low-temperature state, the thermal contraction of the liquid crystal is greater than that of other components. That is, when still keeping the cell thickness of the liquid crystal cell unchanged, the liquid crystal will not fill the entire liquid crystal cell assembly and vacuum bubbles will appear. This is the so-called defect of bubbles at low temperatures.

[0068] In the manufacturing process, the range of the liquid crystal amount that allows the liquid crystal display panel 10 not to have the defects of gravity mura at high temperatures and bubbles at low temperatures is called the liquid crystal amount control range (LC Margin). The middle value of the liquid crystal amount control range is the standard liquid crystal amount.

[0069] In this application, the liquid crystal amount of the liquid crystal layer 13 is within the liquid crystal amount control range and greater than the standard liquid crystal amount. That is, by filling a larger amount of liquid crystal into the liquid crystal layer 13, the area of the first substrate 111 corresponding to the light-transmitting area A1 is made flush with the area corresponding to the display area AA, and the area of the second substrate 121 corresponding to the light-transmitting area A1 is made flush with the area corresponding to the display area AA by controlling the liquid crystal amount.

[0070] Table 1 is an experimental data table showing the relationship between the liquid crystal filling amount of the test display panel 10 and the uniformity of the glass substrate (such as the first substrate 111 or the second substrate 121) of the display panel 10. Among them, an interferometer is used to measure the glass uniformity, and the measured data is the PV value (Peak to Vally Ration), which represents how many wavelengths the glass uniformity differs by, such as 0.5λ. The smaller the value, the higher the uniformity.

[0071] Table 1

[0072]

[0073]

[0074] In Table 1, the second group is the result measured under the standard liquid crystal amount. The liquid crystal amount control range is, for example, plus or minus 5% by weight percentage of the standard liquid crystal amount (i.e., 95% to 105% of the standard liquid crystal amount). The first group is the result measured on the basis of the standard liquid crystal amount with an additional 2% by weight percentage (i.e., 102% of the standard liquid crystal amount), and the third group is the result measured on the basis of the standard liquid crystal amount with a reduction of 2% by weight percentage (i.e., 98% of the standard liquid crystal amount). It can be seen from the table that the PV value of the glass uniformity of the first group with a 2% by weight percentage increase compared to the standard liquid crystal amount is lower, while the PV value of the glass uniformity of the third group with a 2% by weight percentage reduction compared to the standard liquid crystal amount is higher. That is, the PV value of the glass uniformity is roughly inversely proportional to the proportion of the liquid crystal amount. Therefore, within the liquid crystal amount control range, by increasing the liquid crystal amount in the liquid crystal layer 13, the depression of the alignment light-transmitting region A1 can be supported by the liquid crystal, thereby improving the glass uniformity and the imaging of the imaging module 20.

[0075] Figure 3 The following is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention. As Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown, the difference between the display device 200 and the display device 100 is that in the display device 200, a second spacer 17 supported between the array substrate 12 and the color filter substrate 11 is provided in the alignment light-transmitting region A1. One end of the second spacer 17 is fixed to the transparent protective layer 114, and the other end is in contact with the first alignment layer 14. The second spacer 17 is transparent. That is, in the alignment light-transmitting region A1, a transparent protective layer 114, a second spacer 17, a first alignment layer 14, a liquid crystal layer 13, a second alignment layer 15, and a first insulating layer 122 are retained between the first substrate 111 and the second substrate 121. Thus, in the alignment light-transmitting region A1, compared with the display device 100, the second spacer 17 is added, which can increase the support strength of the display panel 10.

[0076] In one embodiment, to avoid the imaging of the camera module 20 being affected by multiple second spacers 17, the number of the second spacers 17 is one. The second spacer 17 is a columnar body. One end of the second spacer 17 close to the transparent protective layer 114 tapers gradually towards the other end away from the transparent protective layer 114. The cross-sectional dimension of the end of the second spacer 17 fixed on the transparent protective layer 114 in the direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the display panel 10 is substantially the same as the size of the light-transmitting area A1. That is, along the thickness direction of the display panel 10, the projection of the second spacer 17 on the color filter substrate 11 falls within or is approximately equal to the projection of the light-transmitting area A1 on the color filter substrate 11.

[0077] Figure 4 FIG. is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention. As Figure 2 and Figure 4 shown, the difference between the display device 300 and the display device 100 is that in the display device 300, in the manufacturing process, the second insulating layer 123 aligned with the light-transmitting area A1 does not need to be removed through a mask. The second insulating layer 123 is disposed to align with the display area AA and the light-transmitting area A1. In this way, both the manufacturing process can be saved and the support strength of the array substrate 12 can be increased.

[0078] Figure 5 FIG. is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 400 according to still another embodiment of the present invention. As Figure 3 and Figure 5 shown, the difference between the display device 400 and the display device 200 is that in the display device 400, in the manufacturing process, the second insulating layer 123 aligned with the light-transmitting area A1 does not need to be removed through a mask. The second insulating layer 123 is disposed to align with the display area AA and the light-transmitting area A1. In this way, both the manufacturing process can be saved and the support strength of the array substrate 12 can be increased.

[0079] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and not to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the technical solutions of the present invention can be modified or equivalently replaced without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention.

Claims

1. A display panel, which defines a display area for displaying an image. The display panel includes an array substrate and a color filter substrate disposed opposite to each other, and a liquid crystal layer located between the color filter substrate and the array substrate. It is characterized in that, the display panel defines a light-transmitting area surrounded by the display area; the liquid crystal layer is aligned with the display area and the light-transmitting area; the color filter substrate includes a transparent first substrate, a black matrix and a color filter layer located on the side of the first substrate close to the liquid crystal layer. The array substrate includes a transparent second substrate and a thin film transistor array layer located on the side of the second substrate close to the liquid crystal layer. The regions of the thin film transistor array layer, the black matrix and the color filter layer aligned with the light-transmitting area are all removed; the liquid crystal amount of the liquid crystal layer is within the liquid crystal amount control range and is greater than the standard liquid crystal amount, so that the region of the first substrate corresponding to the light-transmitting area is flush with the region corresponding to the display area, and the region of the second substrate corresponding to the light-transmitting area is flush with the region corresponding to the display area. Wherein the liquid crystal amount control range refers to the range of the liquid crystal amount allowed for the display panel without the defects of uneven gravity display at high temperature and bubble defects at low temperature, and the standard liquid crystal amount is the middle value of the liquid crystal amount control range.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein the color filter substrate further includes a transparent protective layer; the transparent protective layer is located on the side of the black matrix and the color filter layer away from the first substrate, and the part of the transparent protective layer aligned with the light-transmitting area is recessed in a direction away from the array substrate relative to the part aligned with the display area.

3. The display panel according to claim 2, wherein the array substrate further includes a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer; the first insulating layer is located on the side of the thin film transistor array layer close to the second substrate, and the second insulating layer is located on the side of the thin film transistor array layer away from the second substrate; the first insulating layer is aligned with the display area and the light-transmitting area, and the second insulating layer is at least aligned with the display area.

4. The display panel according to claim 3, characterized in that, the second insulating layer is not provided in the area aligned with the light-transmitting area.

5. The display panel according to claim 4, wherein the display panel further includes a first polarizer and a second polarizer; the first polarizer is located on the side of the color filter substrate away from the array substrate, and the second polarizer is located on the side of the array substrate away from the color filter substrate; the first polarizer defines a through first through hole, and the second polarizer defines a through second through hole. Both the first through hole and the second through hole are aligned with the light-transmitting area.

6. The display panel according to claim 5, wherein the display panel further includes a first alignment layer located between the color filter substrate and the liquid crystal layer and a second alignment layer located between the array substrate and the liquid crystal layer; both the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer are aligned with the display area and the light-transmitting area.

7. The display panel according to claim 6, wherein the display panel further includes a first spacer aligned with the display area; one end of the first spacer is fixedly provided on the first alignment layer, and the other end extends toward the second alignment layer without contacting the second alignment layer.

8. The display panel according to claim 7, wherein the display panel further includes a transparent second spacer aligned with the light-transmitting area; One end of the second spacer is fixed to the transparent protection layer, and the other end is in contact with the first alignment layer.

9. The display panel according to claim 8, wherein The number of the second spacer is one, and along the thickness direction of the display panel, the projection of the second spacer falls into the light-transmitting area.

10. A display device, characterized in that, include: The display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 9; A backlight module, the backlight module is located on a side of the display panel away from the display surface thereof, the backlight module is defined with a mounting hole penetrating the backlight module, and the mounting hole is aligned with the light-transmitting area; as well as A camera module is installed in the installation hole and collects image information through the light-transmitting area.

Images