Display panel and display device

Abstract

This application provides a display panel and a display device. The display panel includes: a flexible substrate, an array layer disposed on one side of the flexible substrate, a light-emitting layer, and an encapsulation layer. The flexible substrate includes a main body portion, a first bent portion formed by bending the main body portion away from the array layer, and a first extension portion. The first extension portion is located on the backlight side of the main body portion and is spaced apart from the main body portion. The display panel also includes an antenna module correspondingly disposed on the first extension portion. Through the above method, this application enables the antenna module to have a larger arrangement space, thereby increasing the number of antenna elements in the antenna module and improving the performance of the antenna module.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of display technology, specifically relating to a display panel and a display device. Background Technology

[0002] With the advancement of technology and the continuous development of the information age, smartphones and other terminal devices have become indispensable smart devices in people's lives. Antennas, as components in mobile phones that receive and transmit signals, play a crucial role in ensuring communication quality and enabling instant communication. With the development and commercial application of 5G technology, the radio waves used in 5G networks have wavelengths on the order of millimeters—"millimeter waves"—which experience greater signal attenuation compared to the "centimeter waves" used in 4G networks. Therefore, it is necessary to further increase the number of antennas inside mobile phones. However, the internal space of mobile phones is extremely limited, and how to arrange more antennas within this limited space has become an urgent technical problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a display panel and a display device that can solve the problem of spatial layout of antenna modules within the display device.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, one technical solution adopted in this application is: to provide a display panel, including a flexible substrate, an array layer, a light-emitting layer and an encapsulation layer disposed on one side of the flexible substrate, the flexible substrate including a main body, a first bent portion and a first extension portion formed by bending from the main body toward the side away from the array layer, the first extension portion being located on the backlight side of the main body and spaced apart from the main body; the display panel also includes an antenna module correspondingly disposed on the first extension portion.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, another technical solution adopted in this application is to provide a display device, including the display panel described in any of the above embodiments.

[0006] Unlike existing technologies, the advantages of this application are as follows: The display panel provided in this application includes a flexible substrate and an antenna module; wherein, the flexible substrate includes a main body, a first bent portion formed by bending the main body towards the side away from the array layer, and a first extension portion, the first extension portion being located on the backlight side of the main body and spaced apart from the main body; the antenna module is located on the surface of the first extension portion away from the main body. In the above design, on the one hand, the antenna module is integrated into the display panel, and by utilizing the bendable characteristics of the flexible substrate, the flexible substrate on which the antenna module is located is bent to a suitable position, so that the antenna module has a larger arrangement space, thereby increasing the number of antenna elements in the antenna module, thus meeting the requirements of 5G technology; on the other hand, in the manufacturing process, the antenna module can be placed on its first extension portion before bending the flexible substrate, and the bending is performed after the film layers of the antenna module are prepared on the flexible substrate, thereby reducing the difficulty of the manufacturing process. Attached Figure Description

[0007] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort, wherein:

[0008] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of one embodiment of the display panel of this application;

[0009] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of one embodiment of the composite tape;

[0010] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the antenna module and the first flexible circuit board according to one embodiment;

[0011] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of another embodiment of the antenna element;

[0012] Figure 5 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of another embodiment of the antenna module and the first flexible circuit board;

[0013] Figure 6 for Figure 1 A structural schematic diagram of the previous embodiment before the display panel is bent;

[0014] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of one embodiment of the display device of this application;

[0015] Figure 8 for Figure 7 A structural schematic diagram of one embodiment of the middle frame. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0017] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present application. The display panel 1 can be an OLED display panel or the like, and includes a flexible substrate 10, an array layer 14 disposed on one side of the flexible substrate 10, a light-emitting layer 16 and an encapsulation layer 18.

[0018] The flexible substrate 10 can be made of materials such as polyimide, which has good stability, high temperature resistance, and bendability. The flexible substrate 10 includes a main body 100, a first bent portion 102 formed by bending the main body 100 towards the side opposite to the array layer 14, and a first extension 104. The first extension 104 is located on the backlight side of the main body 100 and is spaced apart from the main body 100. Optionally, the side of the main body 100 with the light-emitting layer 16 can be referred to as the light-emitting side, and the side of the main body 100 away from the light-emitting layer 16 can be referred to as the backlight side. Furthermore, the boundary between the main body 100 and the first bent portion 102 can be a position where the curvature changes from zero to non-zero, and the boundary between the first bent portion 102 and the first extension 104 can be a position where the curvature changes from non-zero to zero. The bending shape of the first bent portion 102 can be a regular semicircle or other irregular arc shape, etc., and this application does not limit this. Furthermore, the display panel 1 provided in this application may also include an antenna module 12 correspondingly disposed on the first extension 104. Optionally, the antenna module 12 is located on the surface of the first extension 104 facing away from the main body 100. Of course, in other embodiments, the antenna module 12 may also be located on the surface of the first extension 104 facing the main body 100. Moreover, the antenna module 12 can be pre-fabricated on the flexible screen 10 before bending the flexible screen 10, and the antenna module 12 can subsequently reach the corresponding position as the flexible screen 10 is bent.

[0019] In the above design, on the one hand, the antenna module 12 is integrated into the display panel 1, and by taking advantage of the bendable characteristics of the flexible substrate 10, the flexible substrate 10 on which the antenna module 12 is disposed is bent to a suitable position, so that the antenna module 12 has a larger arrangement space, thereby increasing the number of antenna elements in the antenna module 12 to meet the requirements of 5G technology; on the other hand, in the manufacturing process, the antenna module 12 can be disposed on its first extension 104 before the flexible substrate 10 is bent, and the bending is performed after the film layers of the antenna module 12 are prepared on the flexible substrate 10, so as to reduce the difficulty of the manufacturing process.

[0020] In one implementation, please refer to [link / reference needed]. Figure 1 The aforementioned array layer 14 is disposed on the light-emitting side of the main body 100. Multiple pixel driving circuits can be formed in the array layer 14, and each pixel driving circuit can include multiple thin-film transistors. The light-emitting layer 16 is located on the side of the array layer 14 away from the main body 100. The light-emitting layer 16 can include multiple light-emitting units, and each light-emitting unit can be a red, green, or blue light-emitting unit, etc. The array layer 14 is specifically used to drive the light-emitting units within the light-emitting layer 16 to emit light. For example, a pixel driving circuit is electrically connected to a light-emitting unit to control the corresponding light-emitting unit to emit light. The encapsulation layer 18 is located on the side of the light-emitting layer 16 away from the array layer 14. The encapsulation layer 18 is specifically used to protect the light-emitting layer 16, reducing the probability of the light-emitting layer 16 being invaded by external moisture, etc., thereby improving the lifespan of the light-emitting layer 16. Specifically, a portion of the film layers in the array layer 14, the light-emitting layer 16, and the encapsulation layer 18 can extend to the first bending portion 102 and the first extension portion 104. Of course, in other embodiments, the display panel 1 provided in this application may also include a touch layer located on the light-emitting side of the main body 100 (for example, on the side of the encapsulation layer 18 away from the light-emitting layer 16). The touch layer may be provided with a plurality of touch electrodes for sensing the position of the user's touch.

[0021] In yet another implementation, please refer to [link / reference needed]. Figure 1 The display panel 1 provided in this application also includes a composite adhesive tape 11 affixed to the backlight side of the main body 100. Please refer to... Figure 2 , Figure 2 for Figure 1A schematic diagram of one embodiment of the composite tape. The composite tape 11 includes a functional layer (not shown) and a first metal layer 1120 disposed on the side of the functional layer opposite to the main body 100. Generally, the orthogonal projection of the array layer 14 and / or the touch layer on the main body 100 covers at least part of the orthogonal projection of the antenna module 12 on the main body 100. In the above design, the shielding effect of the first metal layer in the composite tape 11 present in the display panel 1 can reduce the mutual interference between the antenna module 12 and the array layer 14 and / or the touch layer above it.

[0022] In an application scenario, such as Figure 2 As shown, the multiple functional film layers and the first metal layer 1120 in the composite tape 11 can form a stacked buffer assembly 110 and a heat dissipation assembly 112, with the buffer assembly 110 closer to the main body 100 than the heat dissipation assembly 112. The buffer assembly 110 includes a stacked first adhesive layer 1110 and a buffer layer 1112, the buffer layer 1112 being a buffer foam or similar material. The buffer assembly 110 can absorb stress, reducing the probability of cracks in the film layer above the composite tape 11 under stress. The heat dissipation assembly 112 includes a second adhesive layer 1122, a thermally conductive coating 1124, and a first metal layer 1120. The second adhesive layer 1122 can be a thermally conductive double-sided adhesive, and the first metal layer 1120 can be a copper foil or similar material. The heat dissipation assembly 112 can dissipate heat from the inside of the display panel 1, thereby improving the lifespan and stability of the display panel 1.

[0023] For further information, please refer to the following: Figure 1 The display panel 1 provided in this application further includes a conductive connector 13, one end of which is electrically connected to the first metal layer, and the other end of which is grounded. This design can better achieve the shielding effect. Optionally, in this embodiment, the first metal layer 1120 is located on the outermost side of the composite tape 11, and the conductive connector 13 is directly electrically connected to the first metal layer 1120 through conductive adhesive. This design can reduce the difficulty of electrically connecting the conductive connector 13 to the first metal layer 1120 and reduce the manufacturing process difficulty.

[0024] Furthermore, in this embodiment, please refer again. Figure 1The outer edge of the composite tape 11 can coincide with the outer edge of the main body 100, or the outer edge of the composite tape 11 can be disposed around the outer periphery of the outer edge of the main body 100. The composite tape 11 has a first region 114 exposed from the flexible substrate 10, and the conductive connector 13 is located on the surface of the first region 114 facing away from the main body 100. In the above design, since the conductive connector 13 is disposed on the first region 114 exposed from the flexible substrate 10, the conductive connector 13 does not need to adopt a complex structural design, and the grounding of the first metal layer 1120 can be achieved relatively easily. Optionally, the other end of the conductive connector 13 can subsequently contact the metal area of ​​the back cover, thereby achieving grounding relatively easily. In addition, in this embodiment, the conductive connector 13 can be conductive foam, conductive metal pillar, or conductive wire, etc. When the conductive connector 13 is conductive foam, it can also play a certain buffering role.

[0025] In actual manufacturing, the flexible substrate 10 is typically bent after the array layer 14, light-emitting layer 16, and encapsulation layer 18 have been fabricated. The antenna elements in the antenna module 12 are generally formed of metal, and the array layer 14 may include several metal structure layers. The antenna module 12 can be fabricated simultaneously with one of the metal structure layers within the array layer 14. That is, while forming a certain metal structure layer within the array layer 14, an antenna module 12 with a predetermined pattern can be fabricated simultaneously at the first extension 104. This design reduces the complexity of the manufacturing process. Optionally, in the direction away from the main body 100, the array layer 14 sequentially includes a semiconductor layer, a gate metal layer, a first connection metal layer, and a second connection metal layer; wherein the semiconductor layer includes a channel region and a first conductive region and a second conductive region located on both sides of the channel region. The first connection metal layer may be provided with a first terminal electrically connected to the first conductive region and a second terminal electrically connected to the second conductive region, etc. The second connecting metal layer may contain connecting electrodes that electrically connect the light-emitting unit to the corresponding first path terminal. Alternatively, the second connecting metal layer may also contain power lines, reference signal lines, etc. The aforementioned metal structure layer may refer to a gate metal layer, a first connecting metal layer, or a second connecting metal layer.

[0026] Of course, in other embodiments, when the display panel 1 includes a touch layer, since the touch electrodes in the touch layer are generally also metal, the antenna module 12 can also be made from the same metal film layer as the touch electrodes. This design can also reduce the difficulty of the manufacturing process.

[0027] For further information, please refer to the following: Figure 1The display panel 1 provided in this application further includes a protective layer 15 disposed on the side of the antenna module 12 opposite to the first extension 104. The introduction of the protective layer 15 can reduce the probability of the antenna module 12 being corroded by external moisture, etc., thereby ensuring the performance of the antenna module 12. In this embodiment, the protective layer 15 can be formed simultaneously with at least one insulating layer within the array layer 14 and / or the light-emitting layer 16 and / or the encapsulation layer 18. In this design, the protective layer 15 can be formed simultaneously with the formation of the insulating layer within the array layer 14 and / or the light-emitting layer 16 and / or the encapsulation layer 18, thereby reducing the difficulty of the manufacturing process. Preferably, the protective layer 15 can be formed by extending from the encapsulation layer 18. Generally, the encapsulation layer 18 has good water and oxygen barrier properties, and this design reduces the probability of the antenna module 12 being corroded by water, oxygen, etc.

[0028] Please see Figure 3 , Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the antenna module and the first flexible circuit board is shown. The antenna module 12 includes at least two antenna elements 120, each antenna element 120 including a first radiator 1200 and a second radiator 1202 disposed on the same layer; wherein, the first radiator 1200 is provided with a through opening A; the second radiator 1202 forms a protrusion B facing the first radiator 1200 and extending into the opening A, and the protrusion B is spaced apart from the first radiator 1200; that is, there is a gap between the protrusion B located in the opening A and the sidewall of the opening A. In this embodiment, the end of the protrusion B can be located in the opening A, or it can pass through the opening A. At this time, the first radiator 1200 and the second radiator 1202 form a slot antenna, and the first radiator 1200 and the second radiator 1202 are capacitively coupled through the gap. The signal source connected to the second radiator 1202 can excite the first radiator 1200 to transmit and receive electromagnetic wave signals of the corresponding frequency band through the coupling of the second radiator 1202. Overall, the structure of the antenna element 120 is well designed and has good radiation performance.

[0029] Optionally, such as Figure 4 As shown, Figure 4 for Figure 3A schematic diagram of another embodiment of the antenna element is shown. The second radiator 1202 also forms two grooves C located on both sides of the protrusion B. In this embodiment, the grooves C form coupling gaps, and the second radiator 1202 can generate at least one resonant mode near the grooves C under the excitation of the signal source, thereby increasing the position and number of resonant modes generated by the antenna element 120, further increasing the bandwidth of the transmitted and received signals of the antenna element 120, and improving the transmission rate. Of course, in other embodiments, the structural design of the antenna element 120 can also be other, and this application does not limit it; and the size design of each position in the antenna element 120 can also be adjusted according to the actual situation, and this application does not describe the size in detail.

[0030] For further information, please refer to the following: Figure 1 and Figure 3 The display panel 1 provided in this application also includes a first flexible circuit board 17, and at least some of the antenna units 120 are electrically connected to the first flexible circuit board 17 via the same lead 170. In this design, a corresponding number of antenna units 120 can be selected from the antenna module 12 and electrically connected to the first flexible circuit board 17 according to the actual required bandwidth. Subsequently, the main board can simultaneously control the multiple antenna units 120 to turn on or off through the first flexible circuit board 17. For example, with Figure 3 For example, the antenna module 12 includes six antenna elements 120. Simulations show that only four antenna elements 120 are needed to meet the bandwidth requirements. Therefore, these four antenna elements 120 are electrically connected to the first flexible circuit board 17 via the same lead 170, while the other two antenna elements 120 are not electrically connected to the first flexible circuit board 17. Of course, in other embodiments, the required number of antenna elements 120 can be determined through simulation beforehand, and only the corresponding number of antenna elements 120 can be fabricated during subsequent manufacturing to reduce costs.

[0031] Alternatively, please see Figure 5 , Figure 5 for Figure 1A schematic diagram of another embodiment of the antenna module and the first flexible circuit board. Different antenna units 120 are electrically connected to the first flexible circuit board 17 via different leads 170. The motherboard can then independently control each antenna unit 120 to be turned on or off via the first flexible circuit board 17. Before leaving the factory or during initial user use, the motherboard independently controls each antenna unit 120 to obtain a bandwidth mapping table corresponding to multiple combinations of antenna units 120. Subsequently, when the usage environment of the display panel 1 changes and the bandwidth requirements change, the motherboard can call the bandwidth mapping table to obtain an antenna unit 120 combination that meets the current bandwidth requirements, and then control the antenna units 120 under that combination to work, while turning off the antenna units 120 outside the combination. For example, the antenna module 12 includes M antenna units 120. Assuming that the number of antenna units 120 working simultaneously is at least N, the six antenna units 120 can form a total of... The motherboard can pre-store the bandwidth corresponding to each combination, and then select the antenna unit 120 corresponding to the actual bandwidth requirement. This design allows the display panel 1 to be used in a wider range of scenarios.

[0032] In addition, in some cases, optical elements, such as an under-display camera, may be provided below the first extension 104 away from the main body 100; in this case, the area of ​​the composite tape 11 and the antenna module 12 corresponding to the under-display camera can be hollowed out to reduce the impact on the optical elements.

[0033] In yet another implementation, please refer to [the relevant document / reference]. Figure 1 and Figure 6 , Figure 6 for Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first embodiment of the display panel before bending. The flexible substrate 10 also includes a second bending portion 106 and a second extension portion 108 connected to each other. The second bending portion 106 is located between the main body portion 100 and the second extension portion 108. The second bending portion 106 is disposed opposite to the first bending portion 102. The first extension portion 104 and the second extension portion 108 are located on the same side of the main body portion 100. For example, the first extension portion 104 and the second extension portion 108 are both located on the backlight side of the main body portion 100. The second extension portion 108 is provided with a bonding area for bonding a driver chip (not shown). The driving leads in the array layer 14 and the touch leads in the touch layer can be electrically connected to the driver chip. In the above design, the flexible substrate 10 has two bending portions disposed opposite to each other, and the bending stress on both sides of the main body portion 100 is approximately the same, so as to reduce the probability of the main body portion 100 shifting or tilting. Optionally, in this embodiment, the first bending portion 102 and the second bending portion 106 can be symmetrically arranged about the central axis of the main body portion 100. This design allows the width of the bezels on both sides of the display panel 1 to be approximately the same, making the display panel 1 more aesthetically pleasing.

[0034] Please see Figure 7 , Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of one embodiment of the display device of this application. The display device 3 includes the display panel 1 in any of the above embodiments.

[0035] Of course, in other embodiments, such as Figure 7 As shown, the display device 3 may further include a mid-frame 30 and a rear cover 32 connected to each other. The mid-frame 30 surrounds the side of the display panel 1, and the rear cover 32 is located on the side of the antenna module 12 away from the main body 100. In this case, the mid-frame 30 and the rear cover 32 essentially form an accommodating space, within which the display panel 1 can be located. The areas of the mid-frame 30 and the rear cover 32 adjacent to the antenna module 12 are made of non-metallic material. For example, the orthographic projections of the antenna module 12 and the mid-frame 30 onto the main body 100 have a first overlapping area, and the mid-frame corresponding to this first overlapping area is made of non-metallic material. The orthographic projections of the antenna module 12 and the rear cover 32 onto the main body 100 have a second overlapping area, and the rear cover 32 corresponding to this second overlapping area is made of non-metallic material. In this embodiment, since the areas of the middle frame 30 and the rear cover 32 adjacent to the antenna module 12 are made of non-metallic materials, the antenna module 12 is located within the clearance area of ​​the whole device, and the introduction of the middle frame 30 and the rear cover 32 will not affect the performance of the antenna module 12.

[0036] Optionally, please refer to Figure 8 , Figure 8 for Figure 7A schematic diagram of the structure of the middle frame in one embodiment. The middle frame 30 can be a three-section structure, wherein the upper and lower sections 301 and 302 are made of non-metallic material, and the middle section 303 is made of metallic material. In this case, the antenna module 12 can be located in the corresponding area of ​​the upper section.

[0037] Similarly, the back cover 32 can also adopt a three-section structure, with the upper and lower sections made of non-metallic material and the middle section made of metallic material. In this case, the antenna module 12 can be located in the area corresponding to the upper section. Optionally, in this embodiment, as... Figure 7 As shown, the conductive connector 13 can directly contact the middle metal area of ​​the rear cover 32 to achieve grounding.

[0038] Furthermore, the display panel 1 provided in this application also includes a first flexible circuit board 17, and different antenna units in the antenna module 12 are electrically connected to the first flexible circuit board 17 through different leads. The display device 3 may also include a motherboard (not shown), which is electrically connected to the first flexible circuit board 17. The motherboard can independently control each antenna unit to turn on or off through the first flexible circuit board 17, so that the bandwidth formed by the currently activated antenna units meets preset requirements. The specific control logic process of the motherboard can be found in the above embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0039] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application and does not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made using the content of this application's specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A display panel, comprising a flexible substrate, an array layer disposed on one side of the flexible substrate, a light-emitting layer, an encapsulation layer and a flexible circuit board, characterized in that: the flexible substrate comprises a main body portion, a first bending portion formed by bending the main body portion away from the array layer, and a first extension portion located on the back side of the main body portion and spaced apart from the main body portion; the display panel further comprises an antenna module disposed on the first extension portion; the antenna module comprises at least two antenna units, and each antenna unit comprises a first radiator and a second radiator disposed in the same layer; wherein the first radiator is provided with an opening; the second radiator is formed with a protrusion extending towards the first radiator and into the opening, and the protrusion is spaced apart from the first radiator; the second radiator is electrically connected to the flexible circuit board through a lead; the first radiator and the second radiator form a slot antenna; the first radiator and the second radiator are capacitively coupled through a slot; and a signal source connected to the second radiator can excite the first radiator to transmit and receive electromagnetic wave signals of a corresponding frequency band through the second radiator.

2. The display panel of claim 1, characterized in that: the display panel further comprises a composite tape attached to the back side of the main body portion, and the composite tape comprises a functional layer and a first metal layer disposed on the side of the functional layer away from the main body portion.

3. The display panel of claim 2, characterized in that: the display panel further comprises a conductive connecting piece, one end of which is connected to the first metal layer and the other end of which is grounded.

4. The display panel of any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that: the array layer comprises a plurality of metal structure layers; and the antenna module and one of the metal structure layers are formed simultaneously.

5. The display panel of claim 4, characterized in that: the display panel further comprises a protective layer disposed on the side of the antenna module away from the first extension portion.

6. The display panel of claim 5, characterized in that: the protective layer is formed by extending the encapsulation layer.

7. The display panel of claim 1, characterized in that: the second radiator is further formed with two grooves respectively located on both sides of the protrusion.

8. The display panel of claim 1, characterized in that: the at least two antenna units are connected to the flexible circuit board through the leads independently.

9. The display panel of claim 1, characterized in that: the flexible substrate further comprises a second bending portion and a second extension portion connected to each other, the second bending portion is located between the main body portion and the second extension portion, the second bending portion is arranged opposite to the first bending portion, and the second extension portion is provided with a bonding area.

10. The display panel of any of claims 1-3, wherein, the display panel further comprises a touch layer disposed on the light-emitting side of the main body portion; wherein the touch layer comprises a touch electrode, and the antenna module and the touch electrode are formed from the same film layer.

11. A display device comprising: comprising: the display panel of any one of claims 1-10.

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