Display panel, display device, and photomask

Abstract

This invention provides a display panel, a display device, and a photomask. The display panel includes a display area and a non-display area; the non-display area includes an electrode contact area; the display panel includes a substrate, and a first virtual sub-pixel and a conventional sub-pixel located on the same side of the substrate; at least a portion of the first virtual sub-pixel overlaps with the electrode contact area in a direction perpendicular to the substrate; the conventional sub-pixel is located in the display area, and the conventional sub-pixel includes a first color sub-pixel, which includes a first light-emitting material layer; the material of the first virtual sub-pixel is the same as the material of the first light-emitting material layer. This invention can improve the display unevenness problem caused by poor photomask bonding, thereby improving product display quality and production line yield.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of display technology, and more particularly to a display panel, a display device, and a photomask. Background Technology

[0002] Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are considered the next-generation mainstream display technology due to their advantages such as fast response, high brightness, high contrast, low power consumption, and ease of flexibility. However, some current display products exhibit a bluish or pinkish tinge at the edges of the display area, with a defect rate of approximately 10%, affecting product display quality and production line yield. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides a display panel, a display device, and a photomask to solve the problem of uneven display at the edges of the display area in the prior art.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a display panel, the display panel including a display area and a non-display area; the non-display area includes an electrode contact area;

[0005] The display panel includes a substrate, and a first virtual sub-pixel and a regular sub-pixel located on the same side of the substrate;

[0006] At least a portion of the first virtual sub-pixel overlaps with the electrode contact area in the direction perpendicular to the substrate;

[0007] The conventional subpixels are located in the display area, and each conventional subpixel includes a first color subpixel, which in turn includes a first luminescent material layer; wherein...

[0008] The material of the first virtual sub-pixel is the same as the material of the first luminescent material layer.

[0009] Secondly, embodiments of the present invention provide a display device, including a display panel provided in any embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Thirdly, embodiments of the present invention provide a mask for fabricating sub-pixels in a display panel; the display panel includes a display area and a non-display area, the non-display area including an electrode contact area; the sub-pixel includes a conventional sub-pixel located in the display area and a virtual sub-pixel located at least partially in the non-display area; the display panel includes a substrate, and at least a portion of the virtual sub-pixels overlap with the electrode contact area in a direction perpendicular to the substrate.

[0011] The photomask comprises multiple sub-regions; each sub-region includes pixel evaporation areas and dummy evaporation areas.

[0012] The pixel evaporation area includes multiple pixel openings, and the dummy evaporation area includes multiple dummy openings; the dummy openings penetrate the mask in the thickness direction of the mask; wherein, the pixel openings are used to correspond with the conventional sub-pixel area in the evaporation process to evaporate the light-emitting material layer in the conventional sub-pixel; the dummy openings are used to correspond with the dummy sub-pixel area in the evaporation process to evaporate the dummy sub-pixel.

[0013] The display panel, display device, and photomask provided in this invention have the following beneficial effects: A first virtual sub-pixel is provided in the display panel. The material of the first virtual sub-pixel is the same as the material of the first luminescent material layer in the first color sub-pixel within the display area. Therefore, the first virtual sub-pixel and the first luminescent material layer are fabricated using the same photomask in the same vapor deposition process. Setting at least a portion of the first virtual sub-pixel to overlap with the electrode contact area is equivalent to extending the vapor deposition edge of the vapor deposition process outwards towards the periphery of the display area. This ensures that the luminescent material layer with a larger shadow area due to abrupt changes in the photomask pattern edge causing poor adhesion between the photomask and the substrate is located in the electrode contact area outside the display area. This guarantees the yield of the first luminescent material layer vapor-deposited near the edge of the display area, thereby improving the display unevenness problem caused by poor photomask adhesion and improving product display quality and production line yield. Attached Figure Description

[0014] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0015] Figure 1 A partial schematic diagram of a display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a cross-section at the position of the tangent AA′;

[0017] Figure 3 This is a partial schematic diagram of another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 4 A partial schematic diagram of a photomask provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 5 A partial schematic diagram of another photomask provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 6 A partial schematic diagram of another photomask provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the alignment of the photomask and the substrate to be vapor-deposited according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 8 This is a partial schematic diagram of the electrode contact area of ​​another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 9 for Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a cross-section at the location of the tangent line BB′;

[0024] Figure 10 This is a partial schematic diagram of a contact metal layer in another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 11 This is a partial schematic diagram of the electrode contact area of ​​another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 12 for Figure 11 A schematic diagram of a cross-section at the position of the tangent CC′;

[0027] Figure 13 A partial schematic diagram of another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 14 A partial schematic diagram of another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 15 for Figure 14 A schematic diagram of a cross-section at the location of the tangent line DD′;

[0030] Figure 16 This is a partial schematic diagram of the electrode contact area in another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 17 for Figure 16 A schematic diagram of a cross-section at the location of the tangent line EE′;

[0032] Figure 18 This is a partial schematic diagram of another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 19 for Figure 18 A schematic diagram of a cross-section at the location of the tangent line FF′;

[0034] Figure 20 for Figure 18 Another cross-sectional view at the location of the tangent FF′;

[0035] Figure 21 A top view schematic diagram of another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 22 A top view schematic diagram of another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 23 for Figure 22 A schematic diagram of a cross-section at the location of the tangent line GG′;

[0038] Figure 24 This is a schematic diagram of a display device provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0039] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0040] The terminology used in the embodiments of this invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” as used in the embodiments of this invention and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0041] The inventors of this application analyzed the problem of uneven display at the edge of the display area in the prior art. They discovered that a bluish or pinkish tinge often appears at the edge of the display area in irregularly shaped displays, especially circular ones. In organic self-emissive displays, a mask is used to deposit the luminescent material layer in the sub-pixels. For irregularly shaped products, the openings in the high-precision mask need to be designed to fit the shape of the display area, resulting in abrupt arc-shaped changes in the mask's opening pattern at the corresponding edge of the display area. When the high-precision mask and the substrate to be deposited are bonded in the evaporation chamber, this abrupt arc-shaped change in the mask's pattern at the corresponding edge of the display area causes a loose bond between the mask and the substrate, resulting in a large gap. This loose bond further enlarges the shadow area of ​​the deposited luminescent material layer at the edge of the display area. Especially with thicker deposited films, the shadow is larger and the effective film width narrows more noticeably. This leads to color shift problems at the edge of the display area. The effective film width refers to the width of the organic layer deposited within the opening of the pixel definition layer. The effective film width can be measured in the cross-section of the display panel.

[0042] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides a display panel in which the edge of the evaporation process for the luminescent material layer in the sub-pixels is extended outwards towards the periphery of the display area. This ensures that the luminescent material layer with a larger shadow area due to abrupt changes in the mask pattern edge causing poor adhesion between the mask and the substrate is located on the periphery of the display area. This guarantees the yield of the organic layer evaporated near the edge of the display area, thereby avoiding the display unevenness caused by color shift due to poor mask adhesion, and improving product display quality and production line yield.

[0043] In some embodiments, Figure 1 This is a partial schematic diagram of a display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a cross-section at the location of the tangent AA′.

[0044] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 The display panel includes a display area AA and a non-display area BA; the non-display area BA includes an electrode contact area BA1. The display area AA includes multiple conventional sub-pixels sp, each sub-pixel sp including a stacked first electrode 11, a light-emitting layer 12, and a second electrode 13. The first electrode 11 is located on the side of the second electrode 13 away from the substrate 10. The first electrodes 11 of each conventional sub-pixel sp are interconnected to form an electrode layer 11c. For example... Figure 1 As illustrated, a regular sub-pixel sp includes a first-color sub-pixel sp1, a second-color sub-pixel sp2, and a third-color sub-pixel sp3. Specifically, the first-color sub-pixel sp1, the second-color sub-pixel sp2, and the third-color sub-pixel sp3 are one of the following: red, green, and blue sub-pixels, respectively. It should be noted that... Figure 1 The arrangement of each color sub-pixel is only illustrative and is not intended to limit the invention.

[0045] like Figure 2 As illustrated, electrode layer 11c extends out of display area AA and connects to contact metal layer 20 within electrode contact area BA1, providing a voltage signal to electrode layer 11c via contact metal layer 20. Electrode contact area BA1 can be understood as the region where electrode layer 11c and contact metal layer 20 achieve electrical contact around display area AA. In one embodiment, electrode contact area BA1 is arranged along a direction surrounding display area AA.

[0046] The display panel also includes a virtual sub-pixel xsp, at least a portion of which is located in the non-display area BA. The virtual sub-pixel xsp includes a first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp. The first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp and the conventional sub-pixel sp are both located on the same side of the substrate 10. At least a portion of the first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp overlaps with the electrode contact area BA1 in the direction e perpendicular to the substrate 10. The first color sub-pixel sp1 includes a first light-emitting material layer; that is, the light-emitting layer 12 of the first color sub-pixel sp1 includes the first light-emitting material layer. The material of the first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp is the same as the material of the first light-emitting material layer. In this embodiment of the invention, the first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp and the first light-emitting material layer are fabricated using the same mask in the same vapor deposition process.

[0047] The display panel includes a pixel definition layer 32, which is used to space adjacent conventional sub-pixels sp. The pixel definition layer 32 has an opening, and the light-emitting layer 12 of the sub-pixel is located in the opening.

[0048] Figure 2 The diagram also illustrates a driving layer 30 located above the substrate 10. The driving layer 30 includes multiple pixel circuits for driving conventional sub-pixels (sp) to emit light. The pixel circuits include thin-film transistors (TFTs) 31. The display panel also includes an encapsulation structure 40 for encapsulating the sub-pixels to isolate them from water and oxygen, thus ensuring their lifespan.

[0049] The display panel provided in this embodiment of the invention includes a first virtual sub-pixel. The material of the first virtual sub-pixel is the same as the material of the first luminescent material layer in the first color sub-pixel within the display area. Therefore, the first virtual sub-pixel and the first luminescent material layer are fabricated using the same mask in the same vapor deposition process. By ensuring that at least a portion of the first virtual sub-pixel overlaps with the electrode contact area, the vapor deposition edge in the vapor deposition process is extended outwards towards the periphery of the display area. This prevents the luminescent material layer with a large shadow area from being deposited due to abrupt changes in the mask pattern edge causing poor adhesion between the mask and the substrate. This ensures the yield of the first luminescent material layer deposited near the edge of the display area. When displaying colors in pixels near the edge of the display area, the luminescent color of the first color sub-pixel will not be lacking, thereby improving the uneven display caused by color deviation due to poor mask adhesion, and enhancing product display quality and production line yield.

[0050] In some embodiments of the present invention, at least a portion of the edge of the display area AA of the display panel is arc-shaped.

[0051] In one embodiment, the shape of the display area AA is approximately circular or elliptical.

[0052] In one embodiment, the first color sub-pixel sp1 is a red sub-pixel, and the light-emitting material layer of the first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp and the red sub-pixel is fabricated in the same vapor deposition process, which can ensure the yield of the red light-emitting material layer vapor-deposited near the edge of the display area.

[0053] In one embodiment, the first color sub-pixel sp1 is a green sub-pixel, and the light-emitting material layer of the first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp and the green sub-pixel is fabricated in the same vapor deposition process, which can ensure the yield of the green light-emitting material layer vapor-deposited near the edge of the display area.

[0054] In some embodiments, Figure 3 This is a partial schematic diagram of another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp further includes a first transition virtual sub-pixel 1gx and a first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx. The first transition virtual sub-pixel 1gx is located on the side of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx closer to the display area AA. The first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx overlaps with the electrode contact area BA1; wherein, the orthographic projection shape of the first transition virtual sub-pixel 1gx on the substrate 10 is the same as the orthographic projection shape of the first light-emitting material layer on the substrate 10. In this embodiment of the invention, the first transition virtual sub-pixel 1gx is located between the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx and the conventional sub-pixel sp, that is, the first transition virtual sub-pixel 1gx is located near the edge of the display area AA. The first transition virtual sub-pixel 1gx and the first light-emitting material layer are fabricated using the same photomask in the same evaporation process. The photomask has pixel openings and dummy openings. The pixel openings are used for evaporating the light-emitting layer in the conventional sub-pixel sp, and at least part of the dummy openings are used for evaporating the first transition virtual sub-pixel 1gx. By setting the shape of at least part of the dummy openings to be the same as the shape of the pixel openings, the orthographic projection shape of the first transition virtual sub-pixel 1gx on the substrate 10 can be made the same as the orthographic projection shape of the first light-emitting material layer on the substrate 10. For the photomask used in the evaporation process of the first light-emitting material layer, the pixel opening for evaporating the first light-emitting material layer and the dummy opening for evaporating the first transition virtual sub-pixel 1gx have the same shape and size, which can improve the fabrication accuracy of the pixel openings in the photomask, thereby improving the accuracy of the light-emitting material layer being deposited in the display area.

[0055] In some implementations, the area of ​​a single first transition virtual subpixel 1gx is the same as the area of ​​a single first luminescent material layer.

[0056] This invention also provides a photomask used in a vapor deposition process to fabricate sub-pixels in a display panel. The photomask provided in this invention can be applied to the fabrication process of the display panel provided in any of the above embodiments. Figure 4 This is a partial schematic diagram of a photomask provided in an embodiment of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 4 As shown, the mask includes multiple sub-regions Q, and in the vapor deposition process, one sub-region Q corresponds to the vapor deposition area of ​​a display panel. Figure 4 The diagram illustrates a sub-region Q, which includes a pixel evaporation region Q1 and a dummy evaporation region Q2. The pixel evaporation region Q1 includes multiple pixel openings sk, and the dummy evaporation region Q2 includes multiple dummy openings xk. The dummy openings xk penetrate the mask in the thickness direction of the mask. The pixel openings sk are used in the evaporation process to correspond with the regular sub-pixel region to evaporate the light-emitting material layer in the regular sub-pixel sp. The dummy openings xk are used in the evaporation process to correspond with the dummy sub-pixel region to evaporate the dummy sub-pixel xsp.

[0057] Figure 4 The shapes of the mid-pixel vapor deposition area Q1 and the dummy vapor deposition area Q2 are for illustrative purposes only. Figure 4 The schematic diagram shows that the edge of the pixel vapor deposition area Q1 is curved, which is suitable for the fabrication of display panels where at least part of the edge of the display area is curved. Additionally, Figure 4 The shapes of the pixel aperture sk and the dummy aperture xk are for illustrative purposes only. In practice, the shape of the aperture in the mask can be designed according to the design requirements of the display panel. When the display panel includes three color sub-pixels, the light-emitting material layers of the three color sub-pixels are fabricated in different evaporation processes, that is, one light-emitting material layer is deposited in a single evaporation process.

[0058] by Figure 4 The illustrated photomask can be used for vapor deposition of the present invention. Figure 1 The embodiment provides a first color sub-pixel sp1 and a first virtual sub-pixel xsp as examples. In the vapor deposition process, the pixel vapor deposition area Q1 in the mask corresponds to the display area AA of the display panel to be vapor deposited, and one pixel opening sk corresponds to the area where one first color sub-pixel sp1 is located; the virtual vapor deposition area Q2 corresponds to the non-display area BA1 of the display panel to be vapor deposited, wherein at least a portion of the virtual opening xk corresponds to the electrode contact area BA1. The vapor deposition material is deposited through the pixel opening sk in the area where the first color sub-pixel sp1 is located to form a first light-emitting material layer, and the vapor deposition material is deposited through the virtual opening xk in the electrode contact area BA1 to form the first virtual sub-pixel xsp.

[0059] In the mask provided in this embodiment of the invention, the edge of the abrupt pattern change is located on the side of the dummy evaporation area Q2 that is far from the pixel evaporation area Q1. Using the mask provided in this embodiment of the invention for evaporation in the sub-pixel evaporation process of the display panel can extend the evaporation edge of the evaporation process outwards towards the periphery of the display area. This ensures that the light-emitting material layer with a larger shadow area due to the abrupt pattern edge causing poor adhesion between the mask and the substrate is located in the electrode contact area outside the display area. This guarantees the yield of the first light-emitting material layer evaporated near the edge of the display area. When displaying pixel color matching near the edge of the display area, the first color sub-pixel's light emission color will not be lacking, thereby improving the display unevenness caused by color deviation due to poor mask adhesion, and improving product display quality and production line yield.

[0060] In some embodiments, Figure 5 A partial schematic diagram of another photomask provided in an embodiment of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 5 As shown, the dummy opening xk includes an edge dummy opening bxk and a transition dummy opening gsk, with the transition dummy opening gsk located on the side of the edge dummy opening bxk closer to the pixel evaporation area Q1. Curve xx is illustrated in the dummy evaporation area Q2, and the dummy opening xk within the area circled by curve xx is the transition dummy opening gsk. At least a portion of the edge dummy opening bxk is used in the evaporation process to deposit virtual sub-pixels xsp that overlap with the electrode contact area BA1, corresponding to the virtual sub-pixel area. The area of ​​the edge dummy opening bxk is S5, and the area of ​​the pixel opening sk is S6. In some embodiments, S5 is greater than S6; in other embodiments, S5 is less than S6. Wherein, |S5-S6| / S6≤1. In this embodiment of the invention, S5 is at most twice that of S6, and at least half that of S6, to ensure that the difference between the size of the edge dummy opening bxk and the size of the pixel opening sk is not too large. This reduces the degree of pattern abruptness between the pixel evaporation area Q1 and the dummy evaporation area Q2, and improves the poor bonding caused by the mask pattern abruptness. In addition, setting at least a portion of the edge dummy opening bxk for evaporating virtual sub-pixels xsp that overlap with the electrode contact area in the evaporation process can expand the evaporation edge outward to the periphery of the display area AA. This ensures that the light-emitting material layer with a large shadow area due to the poor bonding between the mask and the substrate caused by the edge abruptness of the mask pattern is located in the electrode contact area outside the display area, thus ensuring the yield of the first light-emitting material layer evaporated near the edge of the display area and improving the display unevenness caused by the color shift due to poor mask bonding.

[0061] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5As shown, in the vapor deposition process, the transition dummy opening gsk corresponds to the non-display area between the display area AA and the electrode contact area BA1. The transition dummy opening gsk is used to vapor deposit the virtual sub-pixel xsp between the display area AA and the electrode contact area BA1. In some embodiments, the virtual sub-pixel xsp located between the display area AA and the electrode contact area BA1 is a transition virtual sub-pixel (e.g., Figure 3 The diagram illustrates the first transition virtual sub-pixel 1gx. The setting of the transition virtual opening gsk can improve the manufacturing accuracy of the pixel opening sk in the mask, thereby improving the accuracy of the organic light-emitting layer in the display area during the evaporation process and increasing the product yield.

[0062] In some implementations, the shape of the transition dummy opening gsk is the same as the shape of the pixel opening sk.

[0063] In some implementations, the area of ​​the transition dummy opening gsk is the same as the area of ​​the pixel opening sk.

[0064] In some implementations, the density of the transition dummy opening gsk is the same as the density of the pixel opening sk per unit area.

[0065] In some implementations, the shape of the edge dummy opening bxk is substantially the same as the shape of the pixel opening sk.

[0066] In some implementations, the area of ​​the edge dummy opening bxk is substantially the same as the area of ​​the pixel opening sk.

[0067] In some implementations, the total area of ​​the edge dummy opening bxk is approximately the same as the total area of ​​the pixel opening sk per unit area.

[0068] In some implementations... Figure 6 A partial schematic diagram of another photomask provided in an embodiment of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 6 As shown, the dummy evaporation area Q2 also includes a half-cut opening kk, which is located on the side of the dummy opening xk away from the pixel opening sk; the depth of the half-cut opening kk is less than the thickness of the mask. That is, the half-cut opening kk does not penetrate the mask in the thickness direction. In the evaporation process, the evaporated material will not be deposited on the display panel to be evaporated through the half-cut opening kk. The half-cut opening kk is located on the side of the dummy opening xk away from the pixel opening sk, and it can form a good transition between the opening area (i.e., the area where the pixel opening and the dummy opening are set) and the non-opening area of ​​the mask. In the evaporation process, when the mask is stretched and aligned with the substrate to be evaporated, the half-cut opening kk can absorb stress deformation and reduce the tensile strain of the mask, thereby further improving the evaporation yield.

[0069] In some embodiments, the shape of the half-cut opening kk is the same as the shape of its adjacent dummy opening xk. Furthermore, the density of the half-cut opening kk is the same as the density of its adjacent dummy opening xk.

[0070] In some embodiments, the display panel further includes an encapsulation area located on the side of the electrode contact area BA1 away from the display area AA. During the evaporation process, when the mask and the substrate to be evaporated are aligned, the half-cut opening kk corresponds to a pre-defined encapsulation area in the evaporation substrate. When the mask is stretched and aligned with the substrate to be evaporated, the half-cut opening kk can absorb stress deformation and reduce the tensile strain of the mask, thereby further improving the evaporation yield. Simultaneously, the half-cut opening kk can further expand the area of ​​poor alignment and adhesion between the mask and the substrate to be evaporated, further improving the problem of large shadow areas in the evaporated light-emitting material layer caused by abrupt changes in the mask pattern edges, and further improving the evaporation process yield.

[0071] In some embodiments, Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the alignment between the photomask and the substrate to be deposited, provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 As shown, in the vapor deposition process, the mask 200 is aligned with the substrate to be vapor deposited. The pixel vapor deposition area Q1 corresponds to the display area AA, and the dummy vapor deposition area Q2 corresponds to the non-display area BA. The pixel opening sk within the pixel vapor deposition area Q1 corresponds to the opening of the pixel definition layer 32, allowing the deposition of a light-emitting material layer within the opening of the pixel definition layer 32. The edge dummy opening bxk corresponds to the electrode contact area BA1, allowing the deposition of light-emitting material within the electrode contact area BA1 to form a virtual sub-pixel xsp. Additionally, the display panel includes an encapsulation area BA2, located on the side of the electrode contact area BA1 furthest from the display area AA, with a half-etched opening kk corresponding to the encapsulation area BA2. Figure 7 The mask 200 also includes a transition dummy opening gxk, which corresponds to the non-display area between the electrode contact area BA1 and the display area AA.

[0072] In some embodiments, within the same area, the density of the first transition virtual sub-pixel 1gx is the same as the density of the first light-emitting material layer. Therefore, in the mask used for depositing the first light-emitting material layer, a transition virtual opening gxk is provided between the pixel opening kk and the edge virtual opening bxk, and the density of the transition virtual opening gxk is the same as that of the pixel opening kk. The provision of the transition virtual opening gxk can improve the fabrication accuracy of the pixel opening kk in the mask, thereby improving the accuracy of the first light-emitting material layer deposited in the display area.

[0073] In some implementations, such as Figure 3As shown, the virtual sub-pixels also include a second virtual sub-pixel 2xsp and a third virtual sub-pixel 3xsp ​​located near the edge of the display area AA. The second color sub-pixel sp2 includes a second luminescent material layer, and the third color sub-pixel sp3 includes a third luminescent material layer. The material of the second virtual sub-pixel 2xsp is the same as that of the second luminescent material layer, and both are fabricated using the same mask in the same vapor deposition process. Similarly, the material of the third virtual sub-pixel 3xsp ​​is the same as that of the third luminescent material layer, and both are fabricated using the same mask in the same vapor deposition process. The shape and density of the second virtual sub-pixel 2xsp located near the edge of the display area AA are the same as those of the second luminescent material layer within the display area AA. This improves the fabrication accuracy of the pixel openings in the mask used for vapor deposition of the second luminescent material layer, thereby enhancing the precision of vapor deposition of the second luminescent material layer within the display area. The shape and density of the third virtual sub-pixel 3xsp, located near the edge of the display area AA, are the same as those of the third luminescent material layer within the display area AA. This improves the fabrication precision of the pixel openings in the mask used for depositing the third luminescent material layer, thereby enhancing the accuracy of depositing the third luminescent material layer within the display area. This implementation method can improve product yield.

[0074] In some implementations... Figure 8 This is a partial schematic diagram of the electrode contact area of ​​another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 for Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a cross-section at the location of the tangent line BB′. (Combined with...) Figure 8 and Figure 9To understand this, in the electrode contact area BA1, the electrode layer 11c covers at least a portion of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx and contacts the contact metal layer 20 in at least a portion of the area outside the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx. In this embodiment of the invention, the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx overlaps with the electrode contact area BA1, and the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx and the first light-emitting material layer are fabricated in the same vapor deposition process. By setting the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx, the vapor deposition edge in the vapor deposition process can be extended outward to the periphery of the display area. This ensures that the light-emitting material layer with a large shadow area due to the abrupt change in the mask pattern edge causing poor adhesion between the mask and the substrate is located in the electrode contact area outside the display area, thus improving the yield of the first light-emitting material layer vapor deposited near the edge of the display area and improving the display unevenness problem caused by poor mask adhesion. Since the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx and the first light-emitting material layer are fabricated in the same vapor deposition process, the fabrication process of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx is before the fabrication process of the electrode layer 11c. The electrode layer 11c is set to extend from the display area AA to the electrode contact area BA1, and the electrode layer 11c is set to contact the contact metal layer 20 in at least a part of the area outside the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx, so as to ensure the connection performance between the electrode layer 11c and the contact metal layer 20.

[0075] In some implementations... Figure 10 This is a partial schematic diagram of the contact metal layer in another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 10 As shown, the contact metal layer 20 within the electrode contact area BA1 has multiple first openings K1, which penetrate the contact metal layer 20 in the thickness direction. Figure 9 The electrode contact area BA1 further includes multiple insulating portions 51, each of which is at least partially located within the first opening K1. In the direction perpendicular to the substrate e, the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx overlaps with the insulating portions 51. In this embodiment, the electrode layer 11c contacts the contact metal layer 20 in the area outside the multiple first openings K1, which reduces the contact resistance between the contact metal layer 20 and the electrode layer 11c, reduces the voltage drop for signal transmission to the electrode layer 11c, and helps reduce the power consumption of the display panel.

[0076] In some implementations... Figure 9 The diagram illustrates the direction e perpendicular to the substrate 10, by Figure 9As can be seen, the orthographic projection of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx onto the substrate 10 is located within the orthographic projection of the insulating portion 51 onto the substrate 10. In this embodiment, the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx overlaps with the electrode contact area BA1, thereby expanding the evaporation edge in the evaporation process outwards towards the periphery of the display area. This ensures that the light-emitting material layer with a large shadow area, resulting from the mask pattern's abrupt edge changes causing poor adhesion between the mask and the substrate, is located in the electrode contact area outside the display area. This guarantees the yield of the first light-emitting material layer evaporated near the edge of the display area, thus avoiding display unevenness caused by color shift due to poor mask adhesion. Simultaneously, the setting of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx does not affect the contact area between the electrode layer 11c and the contact metal layer 20, ensuring that the contact performance between the electrode layer 11c and the contact metal layer 20 meets the requirements.

[0077] In other embodiments, in a direction perpendicular to the substrate 10, the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx and m insulating portions 51 overlap, where m is a positive integer and m≥2. Figure 11 This is a partial schematic diagram of the electrode contact area of ​​another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 12 for Figure 11 A schematic diagram of a cross-section at the position of the midtangent CC′, combined with... Figure 11 and Figure 12 As can be seen, in the direction e perpendicular to the substrate 10, the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx overlaps with four insulating portions 51. In this embodiment of the invention, the contact metal layer 20 has a plurality of first openings K1, at least a portion of the insulating portions 51 is located within the first openings K1, and the electrode layer 11c is in contact with the contact metal layer 20 in the area outside the insulating portions 51, which can reduce the contact resistance between the electrode layer 11c and the contact metal layer 20. However, since the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx is fabricated before the electrode layer 11c, the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx may have a certain impact on the contact between the electrode layer 11c and the contact metal layer 20. The first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx is set to overlap with at least two insulating portions 51. The shape and size of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx can be adapted to design the overlap method with the insulating portion 51, so as to ensure that the overlap area between the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx and the non-first opening position of the contact metal layer 20 is as small as possible, and to avoid the setting of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx affecting the contact area between the electrode layer 11c and the contact metal layer 20.

[0078] In some implementations, the shape and size of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx can be adapted to the size and position of the first opening K1 to ensure that the shape and size of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx are close to the first color sub-pixel sp1 in the display area AA, while also ensuring that the contact area between the electrode layer 11c and the contact metal layer 20 is large enough.

[0079] It should be noted that the dimensions mentioned in this application generally refer to area dimensions. For example, the size of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx refers to the projected area of ​​the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx projected onto the substrate 10.

[0080] In some implementations, such as Figure 11 As illustrated, m insulating portions 51 overlapping the same first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx are arranged in the same direction. This embodiment can flexibly design the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx by comprehensively considering multiple factors such as the projected area of ​​the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx on the substrate 10, the projected area of ​​the insulating portion 51 on the substrate 10, and the relationship between the size of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx and the size of the first color sub-pixel. Alternatively, the size and arrangement of the insulating portion 51 can be designed according to the required size of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx, setting the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx to overlap with m insulating layers 51 arranged in the same direction, so that the size of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx is close to the size of the first color sub-pixel sp1 in the display area AA, while ensuring that the overlap of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx with the electrode contact area BA1 does not affect the electrical contact performance of the electrode layer 11c and the contact metal layer 20.

[0081] In some embodiments, m ≥ 3, and the m insulating parts are arranged in rows and columns. Row and column arrangement refers to the m insulating parts 51 being arranged in an array along both the row and column directions. For example, when m = 3, the three insulating parts 51 can be arranged in a triangular array. Taking m = 4 as an example... Figure 13 This is a partial schematic diagram of another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 13 As shown, the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx overlaps with four insulating portions 51, which are arranged in a 2-row, 2-column configuration. This arrangement ensures that when the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx overlaps with multiple insulating portions 51, the area of ​​the non-first opening region covered by the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx is relatively small, thus preventing the arrangement of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx from affecting the electrical contact performance of the electrode layer 11c and the contact metal layer 20.

[0082] In some implementations... Figure 14 This is a partial schematic diagram of another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 15 for Figure 14 A schematic diagram of a cross-section at the location of the tangent line DD′. (Combined with...) Figure 14 and Figure 15To understand this, the electrode contact area BA1 also includes an insulating protection portion 33, which is located on the side away from the display area AA. The insulating protection portion 33 covers the edge of the contact metal layer 20 on the side away from the display area AA. At least a portion of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx overlaps with the insulating protection portion 33 in the direction e perpendicular to the substrate 10. In this embodiment, the insulating protection portion 33 can protect the contact metal layer 20 on the side away from the display area AA, preventing the contact metal layer 20 from being exposed and corroded, thus affecting its electrical performance. By setting at least a portion of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx to overlap with the insulating protection portion 33, the evaporation edge in the evaporation process extends outward to the area where the insulating protection portion 33 is located. This ensures that the light-emitting material layer with a large shadow area, caused by abrupt changes in the mask pattern edge and poor adhesion between the mask and the substrate, is located in the electrode contact area outside the display area. This improves the yield of the first light-emitting material layer evaporated near the edge of the display area, thereby improving the display unevenness caused by poor mask adhesion and resulting in color distortion, thus improving product display quality and production line yield.

[0083] In some embodiments, the insulating protection part 33 is fabricated in the same process as the pixel definition layer in the display area AA.

[0084] In some implementations... Figure 16 This is a partial schematic diagram of the electrode contact area in another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 17 for Figure 16 A schematic diagram of a cross-section at the location of the tangent line EE′. (Combined with...) Figure 16 and Figure 17As shown, the electrode contact area BA1 further includes an insulating layer 52, which is located between the contact metal layer 20 and the electrode layer 11c. The insulating layer 52 has a plurality of second openings K2, through which the electrode layer 11c contacts the contact metal layer 20. The area of ​​the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx overlapping with the second opening K2 is S1, and the area of ​​the second opening K2 is S2, where S1 ≤ S2 / 3. In this embodiment, within the electrode contact area BA1, the electrode layer 11c is electrically connected to the contact metal layer 20 through the second opening K2, which helps to reduce the contact resistance between the electrode layer 11c and the contact metal layer 20, reduce the voltage drop of the signal transmitted to the electrode layer 11c, and help to reduce the power consumption of the display panel. Furthermore, the area where the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx overlaps with the second opening K2 is set to be no more than one-third of the area of ​​the second opening K2. This design of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx extends the evaporation edge of the evaporation process to the electrode contact area BA1. This ensures that the light-emitting material layer with a large shadow area, resulting from abrupt changes in the mask pattern edge causing poor adhesion between the mask and substrate, is located in the electrode contact area outside the display area. This guarantees the yield of the first light-emitting material layer deposited near the edge of the display area, thereby improving the uneven display caused by color shift due to poor mask adhesion, and enhancing product display quality and production line yield. Simultaneously, the small overlap area between the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx and the second opening K2 avoids affecting the electrical contact performance between the electrode layer 11c and the contact metal layer 20.

[0085] In some embodiments, the electrode layer 11c contacts the contact metal layer 20 through the second opening K2, and S1 = 0. That is, the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx does not overlap with the second opening K2, which ensures that the setting of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx does not affect the electrical contact performance between the electrode layer 11c and the contact metal layer 20.

[0086] In some implementations, the position and size of the second opening K2 in the insulating layer 52 can be adjusted according to the desired location of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx to ensure that the electrical contact performance between the electrode layer 11c and the contact metal layer 20 is not affected.

[0087] In some implementations, such as Figure 11 As shown, within the display area AA, multiple first-color sub-pixels sp1 are arranged in a pixel row in the first direction x. Figure 11(Not shown in the text) There is a misalignment between two adjacent first edge virtual sub-pixels 1bx in the second direction y; the second direction y intersects with the first direction x. This embodiment can adapt to the edge shape of the display area AA (e.g., an arc edge) to design the arrangement of the first edge virtual sub-pixels 1bx. By setting the first edge virtual sub-pixels 1bx, the evaporation edge in the evaporation process extends outward to the electrode contact area BA1, thereby ensuring the yield of the first light-emitting material layer evaporated near the edge of the display area. This improves the uneven display caused by color deviation due to poor mask bonding, thus improving product display quality and production line yield. Designing the arrangement of the first edge virtual sub-pixels 1bx can also avoid the first edge virtual sub-pixels 1bx setting affecting the electrical contact performance between the electrode layer 11c and the contact metal layer 20.

[0088] In some embodiments, the projected area of ​​the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx on the substrate 10 is S3, and the projected area of ​​the first light-emitting material layer on the substrate 10 is S4. Wherein, |S3-S4| / S3≤1. That is, S3 is at most twice S4, and S3 is at least half of S4. This ensures that the difference between the size of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx and the size of the first color sub-pixel sp1 is not too large, reducing the degree of pattern abruptness in the mask used in the evaporation process and improving the poor adhesion caused by mask pattern abruptness.

[0089] In some embodiments, S3 is greater than S4, that is, the size of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx is greater than the size of the first luminescent material layer. This embodiment can be compared with the above. Figure 7 In this embodiment, the orthographic projection of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx onto the substrate 10 is positioned within the orthographic projection of the insulating portion 51 onto the substrate 10. This embodiment can also be combined with the above-described embodiment. Figure 11 or Figure 12 The size of the insulating portion 51 is designed to fit the size of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx, so that the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx overlaps with two or more insulating portions 51.

[0090] In other embodiments, S3 is less than S4, meaning the size of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx is smaller than the size of the first luminescent material layer. This embodiment can be compared with the one described above. Figure 8 , Figure 11 or Figure 12 The embodiments are combined to design the size of the insulating portion 51 by adapting it to the size of the first edge virtual sub-pixel 1bx.

[0091] In some embodiments, S3 = S4, meaning the size of the first virtual edge sub-pixel 1bx is close to the size of the first color sub-pixel sp1. In some embodiments, the density of the first virtual sub-pixel is basically the same as the density of the first color sub-pixel sp1 in the display area. The mask used in the vapor deposition process needs to have an edge virtual opening bxk with a size that is basically the same as the pixel opening sk. This setting reduces the pattern abruptness between the pixel vapor deposition area Q1 and the virtual vapor deposition area Q2 in the mask, that is, reduces the bonding abruptness caused by the inconsistency of the substrate pattern density, improves the tightness of the bonding between the mask and the substrate to be vapor deposited, simplifies the mask manufacturing process, ensures the yield of the first light-emitting material layer vapor deposited near the edge of the display area, thereby improving the display unevenness caused by color deviation due to poor mask bonding, and improving the product display quality and production line yield.

[0092] In some implementations... Figure 18 This is a partial schematic diagram of another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 19 for Figure 18 A schematic diagram of a cross-section at the location of the tangent line FF′. (See diagram below.) Figure 18 As shown, the non-display area BA also includes a packaging area BA2 located on the side of the electrode contact area BA1 away from the display area; in the direction e perpendicular to the substrate 10, the first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp does not overlap with the packaging area BA2.

[0093] like Figure 19 As shown, the encapsulation structure 40 includes an encapsulation cover plate 60, which covers the display area AA and extends to the non-display area BA. An encapsulation metal 61 is disposed in the encapsulation area BA2. Within the encapsulation area BA2, the encapsulation cover plate 60 is connected to the encapsulation metal 61 via a sealing adhesive 62. This embodiment ensures that the first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp does not overlap with the encapsulation area BA2, thus preventing the first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp from covering the encapsulation metal 61 and affecting encapsulation reliability.

[0094] In another embodiment, Figure 20 for Figure 18 Another cross-sectional diagram at the location of the midtangent FF′. (See diagram below.) Figure 20 As shown, the encapsulation structure 40 includes an inorganic encapsulation layer 63. A barrier 64 is provided in the encapsulation area BA2. The inorganic encapsulation layer 63 covers the display area AA and extends from the display area AA to the non-display area BA and to the side of the barrier 64 away from the display area AA. In this embodiment, the encapsulation area BA2 can also be understood as the encapsulation boundary within the non-display area. By ensuring that the first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp does not overlap with the encapsulation area BA2, the first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp can be prevented from being exposed and forming a water and oxygen intrusion path. This embodiment can ensure encapsulation reliability.

[0095] In some implementations, the virtual sub-pixel also includes a second virtual sub-pixel. Figure 21 This is a top view schematic diagram of another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 21 As shown, the display panel also includes a second virtual sub-pixel 2xsp located on the same side of the substrate 10 as the conventional sub-pixel sp. In the direction perpendicular to the substrate 10, at least a portion of the second virtual sub-pixel 2xsp overlaps with the electrode contact area BA1. The second color sub-pixel sp2 includes a second light-emitting material layer; wherein, the material of the second virtual sub-pixel 2xsp is the same as the material of the second light-emitting material layer. In this embodiment, a first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp and a second virtual sub-pixel 2xsp are simultaneously provided. The provision of the first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp allows the deposition edge of the first light-emitting material layer to extend outward to the electrode contact area BA1. This ensures that the light-emitting material layer with a large shadow area due to the abrupt change in the mask pattern edge causing poor adhesion between the mask and the substrate is located in the electrode contact area outside the display area, thus guaranteeing the yield of the first light-emitting material layer deposited near the edge of the display area. This ensures that the first color sub-pixel's light emission color is not lacking when displaying pixel color matching near the edge of the display area. Meanwhile, the setting of the second virtual sub-pixel 2xsp allows the deposition edge of the second luminescent material layer to extend outward to the electrode contact area BA1. This ensures that the luminescent material layer with a larger shadow area, resulting from poor adhesion between the mask and substrate due to abrupt changes in the mask pattern edge, is located in the electrode contact area outside the display area. This guarantees the yield of the second luminescent material layer deposited near the edge of the display area, ensuring that the luminescent color of the second color sub-pixel is not lacking when displaying pixels near the edge of the display area. This implementation can guarantee the yield of the first and second luminescent material layers deposited near the edge of the display area, improve the problem of color deviation caused by poor mask adhesion, and also improve the problem of color mixing caused by poor adhesion between the mask and the substrate in both the first and second luminescent material layer deposition processes. This improves the product display quality and production line yield.

[0096] The second virtual sub-pixel 2xsp, which overlaps with the electrode contact area BA1, is the second edge virtual sub-pixel. In some embodiments, the shape of the second edge virtual sub-pixel is the same as the shape of the second color sub-pixel sp2. In some embodiments, the area of ​​the second edge virtual sub-pixel projected onto the substrate is S7, and the area of ​​the second luminescent material layer projected onto the substrate is S8, where |S7-S8| / S8≤1.

[0097] In some embodiments, the contact metal layer 20 in the electrode contact area BA1 has a first opening K1, at least a portion of the insulating portion 51 is located in the first opening K1, and the electrode layer 11c is in contact with the contact metal layer 20 in a region other than the first opening; wherein, the second virtual sub-pixel 2xsp overlaps with the insulating portion 51.

[0098] In some implementations... Figure 22 This is a top view schematic diagram of another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 23 for Figure 22 A schematic diagram of a cross-section at the location of the tangent line GG′. (Combined with...) Figure 22 and Figure 23 As can be seen, in the electrode contact area BA1, the first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp and the second virtual sub-pixel 2xsp at least partially overlap. Figure 23 The illustration only shows the first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp located on the side of the second virtual sub-pixel 2xsp closer to the substrate 10, meaning that the manufacturing process of the first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp is performed before the manufacturing process of the second virtual sub-pixel 2xsp. In another embodiment, the second virtual sub-pixel 2xsp is located on the side of the first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp closer to the substrate 10, which is not illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0099] This embodiment simultaneously incorporates a first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp and a second virtual sub-pixel 2xsp, ensuring the yield of the first and second luminescent material layers deposited near the edge of the display area. This improves the uneven display caused by color shift due to poor mask bonding, thereby enhancing product display quality and production line yield. By setting the first virtual sub-pixel 1xsp and the second virtual sub-pixel 2xsp to at least partially overlap, the area occupied by the virtual sub-pixels in the electrode contact area BA1 can be reduced. This minimizes the impact of the virtual sub-pixels on the contact area between the electrode layer 11c and the contact metal layer 20, ensuring the electrical contact performance between the electrode layer 11c and the contact metal layer 20.

[0100] In some embodiments, the first color sub-pixel sp1 is a red sub-pixel, and the second color sub-pixel sp2 is a green sub-pixel. In other embodiments, the first color sub-pixel sp1 is a green sub-pixel, and the second color sub-pixel sp2 is a red sub-pixel. In the display panel, the thickness of the luminescent material layer of the blue sub-pixel is relatively small, and the poor adhesion caused by abrupt changes in the mask pattern at the edge of the display area has a relatively small impact on the process of depositing the blue luminescent material layer. In this embodiment of the invention, at least some virtual sub-pixels corresponding to the red sub-pixel and at least some virtual sub-pixels corresponding to the green sub-pixel are set to overlap with the electrode contact area BA1, so that the deposition edge in the process of depositing the red luminescent material layer extends outward to the electrode contact area BA1, and the deposition edge in the process of depositing the green luminescent material layer also extends outward to the electrode contact area BA1. This ensures the yield of the red and green luminescent material layers deposited near the edge of the display area AA, improves the problem of a bluish appearance at the edge of the display area due to poor mask adhesion when depositing the red luminescent material layer, and also improves the problem of a powdery appearance at the edge of the display area due to poor mask adhesion when depositing the green luminescent material layer. The embodiments of the present invention can improve the uneven display caused by color shift at the edge of the display area, thereby improving product display quality and production line yield. Simultaneously, the design of the positions of the two virtual sub-pixels in the electrode contact area BA1 ensures that the electrical contact performance between the electrode layer 11c and the contact metal layer 20 is not affected.

[0101] This invention also provides a display device. Figure 24 This is a schematic diagram of a display device provided in an embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 24 As shown, the display device includes a display panel 100 provided in any embodiment of the present invention. The structure of the display panel 100 has been described in the above embodiments and will not be repeated here. Figure 24 The shape of the display device is shown for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the invention. In embodiments of the invention, the display device can be any device with display functionality, such as a mobile phone, tablet computer, laptop computer, e-reader, television set, or smartwatch.

[0102] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0103] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A display panel, characterized in that, The display panel includes a display area and a non-display area; the non-display area includes an electrode contact area. The display panel includes a substrate, and a first virtual sub-pixel and a regular sub-pixel located on the same side of the substrate; At least a portion of the first virtual sub-pixel overlaps with the electrode contact area in a direction perpendicular to the substrate; The conventional sub-pixel is located in the display area, and the conventional sub-pixel includes a first color sub-pixel, the first color sub-pixel including a first light-emitting material layer; The electrode contact area includes a contact metal layer; The conventional sub-pixel includes a first electrode, and the first electrodes of each conventional sub-pixel are interconnected to form an electrode layer. The electrode layer extends from the display area to the non-display area and is connected to the contact metal layer in the electrode contact area, for providing a voltage signal to the electrode layer through the contact metal layer. The first virtual sub-pixel includes a first edge virtual sub-pixel and a first transition virtual sub-pixel, wherein the first transition virtual sub-pixel is located on the side of the first edge virtual sub-pixel closer to the display area; The first edge virtual sub-pixel overlaps with the electrode contact area; in, The material of the first virtual sub-pixel is the same as the material of the first luminescent material layer.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the electrode contact area, the electrode layer covers at least a portion of the first edge virtual sub-pixel and is in contact with the contact metal layer in at least a portion of the area outside the first edge virtual sub-pixel.

3. The display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that, The electrode contact area also includes multiple insulating portions; The contact metal layer has a plurality of first openings, and the insulating portion is at least partially located within the first openings; in a direction perpendicular to the substrate, the first edge virtual sub-pixel and at least one of the insulating portions overlap.

4. The display panel according to claim 3, characterized in that, The orthographic projection of the first edge virtual sub-pixel onto the substrate is located within the orthographic projection of the insulating portion onto the substrate.

5. The display panel according to claim 3, characterized in that, In the direction perpendicular to the substrate, the first edge virtual sub-pixel and m insulating portions overlap, where m is a positive integer and m≥2.

6. The display panel according to claim 5, characterized in that, The m insulating parts are arranged in the same direction.

7. The display panel according to claim 5, characterized in that, m≥3, where m insulating parts are arranged in rows and columns.

8. The display panel according to claim 3, characterized in that, The electrode contact area further includes an insulating protective portion that covers the edge of the contact metal layer away from the display area; wherein... In a direction perpendicular to the substrate, at least a portion of the first edge virtual sub-pixel overlaps with the insulating protection portion.

9. The display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that, The electrode contact area further includes an insulating layer, which is located between the contact metal layer and the electrode layer; The insulating layer has a plurality of second openings, and the electrode layer contacts the contact metal layer through the second openings; The area of ​​the first edge virtual sub-pixel overlapping with the second opening is S1, and the area of ​​the second opening is S2, where S1≤S2 / 3.

10. The display panel according to claim 9, characterized in that, S1＝0。 11. The display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that, Within the display area, multiple first color sub-pixels are arranged in a pixel row in a first direction, and there is a misalignment between two adjacent first edge virtual sub-pixels in a second direction; the second direction intersects the first direction.

12. The display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that, The projected area of ​​the first edge virtual sub-pixel on the substrate is S3, and the projected area of ​​the first luminescent material layer on the substrate is S4; wherein, |S3-S4| / S3≤1.

13. The display panel according to claim 12, characterized in that, S3 = S4.

14. The display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that, The orthographic projection shape of the first transition virtual sub-pixel on the substrate is the same as the orthographic projection shape of the first luminescent material layer on the substrate.

15. The display panel according to claim 14, characterized in that, Within the same area: the density of the first transition virtual sub-pixel is the same as the density of the first luminescent material layer.

16. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The non-display area also includes an encapsulation area located on the side of the electrode contact area away from the display area; In the direction perpendicular to the substrate, the first virtual sub-pixel does not overlap with the encapsulation region.

17. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The display panel also includes a second virtual sub-pixel located on the same side of the substrate as the conventional sub-pixel; The second virtual sub-pixel is located in the non-display area; in a direction perpendicular to the substrate, at least a portion of the second virtual sub-pixel overlaps with the electrode contact area; The conventional sub-pixel includes a second color sub-pixel, and the second color sub-pixel includes a second light-emitting material layer; wherein... The material of the second virtual sub-pixel is the same as the material of the second luminescent material layer.

18. The display panel according to claim 17, characterized in that, In the electrode contact area, the first virtual sub-pixel and the second virtual sub-pixel at least partially overlap.

19. The display panel according to claim 17, characterized in that, Of the first color sub-pixel and the second color sub-pixel, one is a red sub-pixel and the other is a green sub-pixel.

20. A display device, characterized in that, Includes the display panel as described in any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. A photomask, characterized in that, The mask is used to fabricate sub-pixels in a display panel as described in any one of claims 1 to 19; the display panel includes a display area and a non-display area, the non-display area including an electrode contact area; the sub-pixels include conventional sub-pixels located in the display area and virtual sub-pixels located at least partially in the non-display area; the display panel includes a substrate, and at least a portion of the virtual sub-pixels overlap with the electrode contact area in a direction perpendicular to the substrate; The mask includes multiple sub-regions; each sub-region includes a pixel evaporation area and a dummy evaporation area. The pixel evaporation area includes multiple pixel openings, and the dummy evaporation area includes multiple dummy openings; in the thickness direction of the mask, the dummy openings penetrate the mask; wherein, the pixel openings are used to correspond to the conventional sub-pixel area in the evaporation process to evaporate the light-emitting material layer in the conventional sub-pixel; the dummy openings are used to correspond to the virtual sub-pixel area in the evaporation process to evaporate the virtual sub-pixel.

22. The photomask according to claim 21, characterized in that, The dummy opening includes an edge dummy opening, at least a portion of which is used in the vapor deposition process to vapor deposit the virtual sub-pixel that overlaps with the electrode contact area, corresponding to the virtual sub-pixel area. The area of ​​the dummy opening at the edge is S5, and the area of ​​the pixel opening is S6, wherein... │S5-S6│ / S6≤1.

23. The photomask according to claim 21, characterized in that, The dummy vapor deposition area also includes a half-etched opening, which is located on the side of the dummy opening away from the pixel opening; The depth of the semi-cut opening is less than the thickness of the mask.

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