Display panel and display device

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides a display panel and a display device. The display panel includes a display area and a non-display area; the display panel includes a substrate, an array layer located on one side of the substrate, and a display layer; the side of the substrate close to the array layer has grooves and dams, the grooves and dams are located in the non-display area, and the part of the substrate located between two adjacent grooves forms a dam; the display panel also includes a first cushion layer structure, the first cushion layer structure includes an inorganic material; along a direction perpendicular to the plane of the substrate, the first cushion layer structure is stacked on one side of the dam. The present invention can improve the film layer wrinkling and warping phenomenon caused when the display panel is peeled off from the rigid substrate, does not affect the subsequent module process, and can improve the yield of the display panel.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] When manufacturing existing flexible display products, a flexible base is first fabricated on a glass substrate. The array layer, display layer, and other structures are then fabricated sequentially on one side of the flexible base. After the film layers are fabricated, the flexible panel is peeled from the glass substrate and cut. After peeling from the glass substrate, current flexible products experience film wrinkles and warping near the cutting lines, impacting the subsequent module manufacturing process and resulting in low display panel yields. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Embodiments of the present invention provide a display panel and a display device to solve the technical problem of improving the yield of a display panel.

[0004] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a display panel, the display panel including a display area and a non-display area; the display panel including a substrate, an array layer located on one side of the substrate, and a display layer;

[0005] A side of the substrate close to the array layer is provided with a groove and a dam, the groove and the dam are located in the non-display area, and a portion of the substrate located between two adjacent grooves forms a dam;

[0006] The display panel further includes a first pad layer structure, which includes an inorganic material; along a direction perpendicular to the plane where the substrate is located, the first pad layer structure is stacked on one side of the dam.

[0007] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a display device, comprising the display panel provided by any embodiment of the present invention.

[0008] The display panel and display device provided by embodiments of the present invention have the following beneficial effects: The display panel provided by embodiments of the present invention has grooves and dams formed on a substrate in a non-display area. The grooves and dams are located on the side of the substrate near the array layer, and the dams separate adjacent grooves. The grooves and dams cooperate to form a multi-segment structure on the substrate in the non-display area, and a first cushioning structure comprising an inorganic material is stacked on top of the dams. The first cushioning structure is stacked with the dams to increase the height at the stacking location, reduce the height difference between the stacking location and other locations on the display panel, and adjust the height of the neutral plane at the stacking location. This can reduce the peeling stress on the film structure at the locations of the grooves and dams when the display panel is peeled from a rigid substrate. Furthermore, the design of the grooves and dams on the substrate can disperse the peeling stress, avoiding stress concentration that causes wrinkling and warping. Furthermore, the first cushioning structure can cover the dams to prevent warping and peeling of the film layer between the dams and the film layer below. Embodiments of the present invention can improve the wrinkling and warping of the film layer caused by peeling the display panel from the rigid substrate without affecting the subsequent module manufacturing process, thereby improving the yield of the display panel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. 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 paying any creative labor.

[0010] Figure 1 A schematic top view of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view at the mid-tangent line C-C';

[0012] Figure 3 A schematic top view of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 11 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 12 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 13 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 14 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 15 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 16 A schematic diagram of a display device provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] The terms used in the embodiments of the present invention are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. The singular forms "a", "an", "the" and "the" used in the embodiments of the present invention and the appended claims are also intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0028] In the prior art, the production of flexible display panels requires a rigid substrate (such as a glass substrate) as a carrier substrate. A flexible base is first fabricated on the rigid substrate, and then the various functional layers of the display panel (such as the array layer, display layer, and encapsulation layer) are fabricated on top of the flexible base. The flexible display panel is then peeled from the rigid substrate and finally cut along pre-set cutting lines. The cut display panel then undergoes the post-production module manufacturing process to form the final product. However, in the prior art, after the display panel is peeled from the rigid substrate, the film layer may wrinkle and warp near the cutting lines of the display panel, affecting the post-production module manufacturing process and resulting in a low yield of the display panel.

[0029] The inventors of the present application have analyzed the reasons why the film layer wrinkles and warps near the cutting path. The area near the cutting path is the edge area of ​​the display panel. There is no functional structure for display near the cutting path. In order to facilitate the cutting of the display panel, the insulating layer near the cutting path is usually removed and only the substrate at this position is retained. Removing the insulating layer near the cutting path can also prevent the cracks caused by the cutting from extending into the interior of the display area. The process of removing the insulating layer near the cutting path occurs before the display panel is peeled off from the rigid substrate. The display panel will not be cut until it is peeled off from the rigid substrate. Since only the substrate is retained near the cutting path, the thickness of the film layer at this position is thinner, which will form a large step difference with the position where the array layer and the display layer are located. In the process of peeling the display panel off from the rigid substrate, the thickness of the film layer near the cutting path is thinner and the substrate has a certain flexibility, which will cause wrinkles due to stress, and warping will occur between the internal film layers of the substrate.

[0030] In order to solve the problems existing in the prior art, an embodiment of the present invention provides a display panel, which improves the structure near the cutting line of the display panel to improve the wrinkling and warping of the film layer near the cutting line and improve the yield of the display panel.

[0031] Figure 1 A schematic top view of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 2 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional diagram at the mid-tangent line C-C'. Figure 1 As shown, the display panel includes a display area AA and a non-display area NA, and a groove 11 is provided in the non-display area.

[0032] Combine Figure 2From a perspective, the display panel includes a substrate 10, an array layer 20 located on one side of the substrate 10, and a display layer 30; the array layer 20 includes a pixel circuit, and the display layer 30 includes a light-emitting device, which can be an organic light-emitting device or an inorganic light-emitting device. In an embodiment of the present invention, the substrate 10 is a flexible substrate. In some embodiments, the substrate 10 may be formed of a polymer material such as polyimide (PI), polycarbonate (PC), polyethersulfone (PES), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyarylate (PAR) or fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP). The substrate 10 may be transparent, translucent or opaque.

[0033] The side of the substrate 10 near the array layer 20 has a groove 11 and a dam 12 located in the non-display area NA, wherein the portion of the substrate 10 located between two adjacent grooves 11 forms a dam. In other words, the surface of a portion of the substrate 10 is recessed toward the interior of the substrate 10 to form the groove 11, while the portion of the substrate 10 between two adjacent grooves 11 is a raised portion relative to the bottom of the groove 11, and this raised portion forms the dam 12. When manufacturing the display panel, the substrate 10 is etched to form the grooves 11, and the unetched portion between the two grooves 11 forms the dam 12. In this embodiment of the present invention, along a direction e perpendicular to the plane of the substrate 10, the groove 11 does not overlap with either the array layer 20 or the display layer 30, and the dam 12 does not overlap with either the array layer 20 or the display layer 30.

[0034] Figure 2 The diagram illustrates the cut edge B of the display panel, which is the outer edge of the display panel. During production, multiple display panels are fabricated on the same large-scale motherboard. After the film layers of the display panels are completed, they are cut along pre-set cutting lanes to form independent display panels. The cut edge B of the display panel is the outer edge formed by cutting along the cutting lanes.

[0035] Figure 2 FIG. 4 schematically shows that the non-display area NA is provided with four grooves 11 . Figure 2 The groove 11-w is shown schematically in FIG. Figure 1 and Figure 2 To understand, groove 11-w is the portion between cutting edge B and the nearest dam 12. Groove 11-w can be considered the groove farthest from display area AA. If a predetermined cutting path overlaps a groove, then after cutting along the cutting path, part of the groove structure remains on the display panel, forming groove 11-w.

[0036] In the embodiment of the present invention, at least one dam 12 is provided in the non-display area NA, and at least one groove 11 is provided on both sides of the dam 12. The embodiment of the present invention does not limit the specific number of grooves 11 and dams 12 arranged in the direction from the display area AA to the cutting edge B. Figure 2 Schematically, four grooves 11 and three dams 12 are shown. In some embodiments, the widths of the grooves 11 are equal in the direction from the display area AA to the cutting edge B. Optionally, the spacing between two adjacent grooves 11 is equal.

[0037] like Figure 2 As shown, the display panel also includes a first pad structure 40, which includes an inorganic material. The first pad structure 40 is stacked on one side of the dam 12 along a direction e perpendicular to the plane of the substrate 10. The stacking of the first pad structure 40 and the dam 12 increases the height of the film layer at that location, reducing the height difference between the location of the first pad structure 40 and the locations of the array layer 20 and the display layer 30. Furthermore, the first pad structure 40 can adjust the position of the neutral plane at its location.

[0038] The display panel provided by the embodiment of the present invention has grooves 11 and dams 12 made on the substrate 10 of the non-display area NA. The grooves 11 and dams 12 are located on the side of the substrate 10 close to the array layer 20, and the dams 12 separate the adjacent grooves 11. The grooves 11 and dams 12 cooperate to form a multi-segment structure of the substrate 10 of the non-display area NA, and a first cushion structure 40 comprising an inorganic material is stacked on the dams 12. The first cushion structure 40 is stacked with the dam 12, so that the height at the stacking position is increased, the height difference between the stacking position and other positions of the display panel is reduced, and the height of the neutral plane at the stacking position is adjusted, so that the peeling stress of the film structure at the position of the grooves 11 and the dam 12 can be reduced when the display panel is peeled off from the rigid substrate. Moreover, the design of the grooves 11 and dams 12 on the substrate 10 can disperse the peeling stress and avoid wrinkles and warping caused by stress concentration. In addition, the first cushion structure 40 can also be used to cover the dam 12 to prevent the film from warping and peeling between the dam 12 and the film layer below it. The embodiments of the present invention can improve the film wrinkle and warping phenomenon caused when the display panel is peeled off from the rigid substrate, does not affect the subsequent module manufacturing process, and can improve the yield of the display panel.

[0039] In some embodiments, as Figure 1 As shown, the extending direction of the groove 11 is the same as the extending direction of the edge of the display area AA. Figure 2It can be understood that the dam 12 is located between adjacent grooves 11, and the extension direction of the dam 12 is the same as the extension direction of the groove 11. It can be understood that the extension direction of the first cushion structure 40 in the non-display area NA is the same as the extension direction of the groove 11. The extension direction of the groove 11, the extension direction of the dam 12, and the extension direction of the first cushion structure 40 in the non-display area NA are all the same as the extension direction of the edge of the display area AA. This can improve the wrinkle and warping phenomenon in the non-display area NA along the extension direction of the edge of the display area AA.

[0040] In one embodiment, if Figure 1 As shown, the groove 11 surrounds the display area AA to form a through groove, that is, the groove 11 surrounding the display area AA forms a closed pattern. This embodiment can improve the wrinkle and warping phenomenon at various positions surrounding the display area AA in the non-display area NA.

[0041] In another embodiment, Figure 3 A schematic top view of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 3 As shown, at least two non-connected grooves 11 are arranged along a direction surrounding the display area AA. In other words, the grooves 11 extend in the same direction as the edge of the display area AA, and two or more grooves 11 are arranged along the direction surrounding the display area AA. This can also reduce the wrinkling and warping phenomenon at various locations surrounding the display area AA within the non-display area NA.

[0042] like Figure 2 As shown, the first cushion layer structure 40 is in contact with the surface of the dam 12. That is to say, there is no other structural layer between the dam 12 and the first cushion layer structure 40. The first cushion layer structure 40 is directly made in contact with the substrate 10 on the side of the substrate 10 close to the array layer 20. In the present invention, the cutting edge B of the display panel corresponds to the preset cutting path in the uncut display panel. In the non-display area NA, the film layer at the position close to the cutting edge B of the display panel is removed and only the substrate 10 is retained. Then, the height of the position where the dam 12 is located is raised by using the first cushion layer structure 40 in direct contact with the substrate 10. The arrangement of the present invention can reduce the thickness of the film layer near the cutting path. When the thickness is reduced, the energy required for cutting is reduced, which can improve the cutting accuracy.

[0043] In some embodiments, Figure 4 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 4As shown, the substrate 10 includes a stacked first flexible layer 10-1 and a second flexible layer 10-2, with a buffer layer 10-3 disposed between the first flexible layer 10-1 and the second flexible layer 10-2. The buffer layer 10-3 includes at least one of silicon nitride, silicon oxide, and silicon oxynitride. Optionally, the first flexible layer 10-1 and the second flexible layer 10-2 are made of the same material. The first flexible layer 10-1 is located on the side of the second flexible layer 10-2 that is close to the array layer 20. The groove 11 at least penetrates the first flexible layer 10-1, and the dam 12 is formed by at least the first flexible layer 10-1. When manufacturing the display panel, the etching process time can be controlled to ensure that the depth of the groove 11 is greater than or equal to the thickness of the first flexible layer 10-1. In this embodiment, the design of stacking the first cushion structure 40 and the dam 12 can reduce the stress at the locations of the grooves 11 and the dam 12 when the display panel is peeled off from the rigid substrate; and the design of the grooves 11 and the dam 12 is used to form the first flexible layer 10-1 into a multi-segment structure, which can disperse the peeling stress when the display panel is peeled off from the rigid substrate, thereby avoiding stress concentration that causes wrinkles and warping.

[0044] Furthermore, when the groove 11 penetrates the first flexible layer 10-1, the first cushion structure 40 can contact the buffer layer 10-3 below the first flexible layer 10-1. Since both the first cushion structure 40 and the buffer layer 10-3 comprise inorganic materials, they are tightly connected upon contact and are not susceptible to delamination. The first cushion structure 40 effectively covers the dam 12 formed by the first flexible layer 10-1, preventing warping and delamination between the dam 12 and the underlying film layer.

[0045] In other embodiments, Figure 5 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 5 As shown, along the direction e perpendicular to the plane of the substrate 10, the depth of the groove 11 extending into the second flexible layer 10-2 is less than the thickness of the second flexible layer 10-2. In this embodiment, the groove 11 penetrates the first flexible layer 10-1, the buffer layer 10-3, and extends into the interior of the second flexible layer 10-2. The dam 12 is composed of at least the first flexible layer 10-1, the buffer layer 10-3, and a portion of the second flexible layer 10-2. Retaining a portion of the second flexible layer 10-2 at the location of the groove 11 can ensure the structural integrity of the substrate 10. The design of stacking the first cushion structure 40 and the dam 12 can reduce the stress at the location of the groove 11 and the dam 12 when the display panel is peeled from the rigid substrate. The groove 11 is used to form a multi-segment structure of part of the film layer of the substrate 10, which can disperse the peeling stress when the display panel is peeled from the rigid substrate, avoiding stress concentration that causes wrinkles and warping. In addition, the first cushion structure 40 can well cover the dam 12 , preventing the dam 12 from warping and peeling off from the film layer below it.

[0046] Figure 2 and Figure 4 The direction e perpendicular to the plane where the substrate 10 is located is shown in FIG. It can be understood that the direction of the positive projection onto the plane where the substrate 10 is located is parallel to the direction e. Figure 2 or Figure 4 It can be seen that the orthographic projection of the first cushion structure 40 on the plane of the substrate 10 covers the dam 12, and the first cushion structure 40 can cover the top and side surfaces of the dam 12. In other words, the first cushion structure 40 not only raises the height of the film layer at the location of the dam 12, but also completely covers the dam 12 formed in the substrate 10 structure, thereby preventing warping and delamination between the dam 12 and the film layer below it.

[0047] In an embodiment of the present invention, a first cushion layer structure 40 is disposed in the non-display area NA near the cutting edge B, stacked with the dam 12. The first cushion layer structure 40 comprises an inorganic material. During the subsequent module manufacturing process, cracks may form in the first cushion layer structure 40 due to bending. These cracks may extend into the display area AA, potentially causing defects such as metal wire breakage. The present invention further improves the structure within the display panel to prevent these cracks from extending into the display area AA through the first cushion layer structure 40.

[0048] In some embodiments, Figure 6 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 6 As shown, the groove 11 includes a first groove 11-1, which is the first groove 11-1 pointing from the display area AA to the non-display area NA. The display panel includes an inorganic layer 50 located on the same side of the substrate 10 as the first pad structure 40. The inorganic layer 50 extends from the display area AA to the non-display area NA, and the edge of the inorganic layer 50 terminates on the side of the first groove 11-1 near the display area AA. The first pad structure 40 does not contact the edge of the inorganic layer 50. Optionally, the distance between the first pad structure 40 and the edge of the inorganic layer 50 is greater than 5 microns.

[0049] Figure 6The structure of the array layer 20 and the display layer 30 is simplified. The array layer 20 includes a pixel circuit 20-1, which includes a transistor T and a capacitor Cst. The array layer 20 includes at least a semiconductor layer 21, a first metal layer 22, a second metal layer 23, and a third metal layer 24. Insulating layers 25 are provided between adjacent metal layers and between the semiconductor layer 21 and the first metal layer 22. Optionally, the insulating layers 25 are all inorganic layers 50. A planarization layer 26 is provided on the side of the third metal layer 24 near the display layer 30. The planarization layer 26 includes an organic material. The display layer 30 includes a light-emitting device 31 and a pixel definition layer 32 that separates the light-emitting devices. The material of the pixel definition layer 32 includes an inorganic material or an organic material. Figure 6 The light emitting device 31 is only shown for simplified illustration. Optionally, the light emitting device 31 includes a stacked first electrode, a light emitting layer, and a second electrode.

[0050] Depend on Figure 6 It can be seen that both the array layer 20 and the display layer 30 terminate on the side of the first groove 11-1 that is closest to the display area AA. That is, along a direction e perpendicular to the plane of the substrate 10, neither the array layer 20 nor the display layer 30 overlaps the first groove 11-1. Consequently, the first cushion structure 40 does not contact the edges of the inorganic layer 50. If a crack exists in the first cushion structure 40, the crack will not extend through the first cushion structure 40 to the inorganic layer 50, thereby preventing the crack from propagating into the display area AA and ensuring the reliability of the display panel performance.

[0051] Figure 6 The array layer 20 is illustrated as including only three metal layers. In other embodiments, the array layer 20 includes four metal layers. That is, a fourth metal layer is provided on the side of the third metal layer 24 away from the substrate 10. In this case, the insulating layer between the third and fourth metal layers may include an inorganic layer and / or an organic layer. The insulating layer on the side of the fourth metal layer away from the substrate 10 includes an organic layer. In this embodiment, the inorganic layer in the array layer 20 extends from the display area AA to the non-display area NA and terminates on the side of the first groove 11-1 near the display area AA. The first pad structure 40 does not contact the edge of the inorganic layer 50 and is not illustrated here.

[0052] like Figure 6 As shown, in the non-display area NA, at least two dams 12 are arranged in the direction from the display area AA to the non-display area NA; the dam 12 includes an adjacent first dam 12-1 and a second dam 12-2; and the first cushion structure 40 stacked respectively with the first dam 12-1 and the second dam 12-2 is not connected. Figure 6In the illustration, second dam 12-2 is located on the side of first dam 12-1 away from display area AA. Because second dam 12-2 and first dam 12-1 are not connected to their respective corresponding first cushion structures 40, when a crack forms in the first cushion structure 40 stacked with second dam 12-2, the crack will not extend to the first cushion structure 40 stacked with first dam 12-1. This prevents the crack from extending into display area AA, ensuring the reliability of the display panel.

[0053] In some embodiments, as Figure 6 As shown, one dam 12 corresponds to one first cushion structure 40, wherein the first cushion structures 40 stacked respectively with any two adjacent dams 12 are not connected. The first cushion structure 40 comprises an inorganic material, and the first cushion structure 40 can be manufactured by an etching process. The etching process has high manufacturing precision, and can realize the manufacture of a graphical first cushion structure 40, and the first cushion structures 40 stacked respectively with any two adjacent dams 12 are not connected. This arrangement allows the first cushion structures 40 to be interrupted from each other in the direction from the cutting edge B to the display area AA, thereby blocking the extension of the crack into the display area AA at multiple locations, effectively improving the performance reliability of the display panel.

[0054] In some embodiments, as Figure 2 As shown, the edge of the first cushion layer structure 40 closest to the cutting edge B, on the side away from the display area AA, is not flush with the cutting edge B. Therefore, the first cushion layer structure 40 does not overlap with the predetermined cutting path. When the display panel is cut along the predetermined cutting path, the first cushion layer structure 40 does not need to be cut, which can reduce the thickness of the film being cut. Reduced thickness reduces the energy required for cutting, which can improve cutting accuracy. Furthermore, the first cushion layer structure 40 is composed of an inorganic material, which can prevent the first cushion layer structure 40 from being cracked due to cutting.

[0055] In another embodiment, Figure 7 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 7 As shown, the groove 11 includes a first groove 11-1, which is the first groove 11-1 pointing from the display area AA to the non-display area NA. The display panel includes an inorganic layer 50 located on the same side of the substrate 10 as the first pad structure 40. The inorganic layer 50 extends from the display area AA to the non-display area NA, and the edge of the inorganic layer 50 terminates on the side of the first groove 11-1 near the display area AA. The first pad structure 40 closest to the inorganic layer 50 does not contact the edge of the inorganic layer 50. The first pad structures 40 corresponding to adjacent dams 12 are connected to each other. Figure 7As shown in the embodiment, the first cushion structures 40 corresponding to each dam 12 are interconnected as a whole, that is, one first cushion structure 40 overlaps with two or more dams 12 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the substrate 10. The display panel provided by this embodiment utilizes the stacking of the first cushion structure 40 and the dam 12 to increase the height of the film layer at the position of the dam 12, reduce the height difference between the stacking position and other positions of the display panel, and adjust the height of the neutral plane at the stacking position. The design of the stacking of the first cushion structure 40 and the dam 12 can reduce the stress at the position of the groove 11 and the dam 12 when the display panel is peeled off from the rigid substrate, and improve the wrinkling and warping of the film layer caused by the peeling of the display panel from the rigid substrate. By setting the first cushion structures 40 corresponding to each dam 12 to be interconnected as a whole, the precision requirement for the production of the first cushion structure 40 is lower, which reduces the difficulty of the process. In addition, the first cushion layer structure 40 is arranged not to contact the edge of the inorganic layer 50 of the display panel. When there is a crack on the first cushion layer structure 40, the crack will not extend through the first cushion layer structure 40 to the inorganic layer 50, thereby preventing the crack from extending into the display area AA and ensuring the performance reliability of the display panel.

[0056] In another embodiment, Figure 8 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 8 As shown, the inorganic layer 50 extends from the display area AA to the non-display area NA, and the edge of the inorganic layer 50 is terminated on the side of the first groove 11-1 close to the display area AA; the first cushion structure 40 does not contact the edge of the inorganic layer 50. In the non-display area NA: at least two first cushion structures 40 are arranged in the direction from the display area AA to the non-display area NA, and there are adjacent first cushion structures 40 that are not connected. Among them, at least one first cushion structure 40 is stacked with two or more dams 12 at the same time. In this embodiment, adjacent first cushion structures 40 are not connected, so that the cracks generated by the first cushion structure 40 can be blocked from extending in the direction of the display area AA. At the same time, the first cushion structure 40 closest to the inorganic layer 50 is not in contact with the edge of the inorganic layer 50, further blocking the cracks of the first cushion structure 40 from extending to the inorganic layer 50, thereby reducing the risk of metal wire breakage caused by cracks and improving the performance reliability of the display panel.

[0057] In another embodiment, Figure 9 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 9As shown, the first pad layer structure 40 includes an adjacent first pad layer structure 40-1 and a second first pad layer structure 40-2, wherein, on the side close to the display area AA, the first first pad layer structure 40-1 is in contact with the inorganic layer 50 of the display panel, and the first first pad layer structure 40-1 and the second first pad layer structure 40-2 are not connected. It can be considered that the dam stacked with the first first pad layer structure 40-1 is the first dam 12-1, and the dam stacked with the second first pad layer structure 40-2 is the second dam 12-2, that is, the first pad layer structure 40 stacked with the first dam 12 and the second dam 12 respectively is not connected. In this embodiment, although the first pad layer structure 40 is in contact with the inorganic layer 50 of the display panel, there are adjacent and unconnected first first pad layer structure 40-1 and second first pad layer structure 40-2 in the arrangement direction of the first pad layer structure 40, thereby also being able to block cracks and prevent cracks from extending to the display area AA.

[0058] in addition, Figure 9 In the embodiment, one dam 12 corresponds to one first cushion structure 40 . In another embodiment, each first cushion structure 40 may be stacked with two or more dams 12 , which is not illustrated in the drawings here.

[0059] In some embodiments, the first pad layer structure 40 is made of the same layer and material as at least one inorganic layer 50 extending from the display area AA to the non-display area NA in the display panel. That is, the first pad layer structure 40 is made of the existing inorganic layer in the display panel.

[0060] In one embodiment, the display panel further includes a touch layer including touch electrodes, which enables the display panel to implement touch functionality. The touch layer is located on a side of the display layer 30 away from the array layer 20 and includes an inorganic layer. The first pad structure 40 is made of the same material as the inorganic layer in the touch layer.

[0061] In some embodiments, Figure 10 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 10As shown, the display panel also includes a second cushion structure 60, which includes an organic material; the second cushion structure 60 is located on the side of the first cushion structure 40 away from the substrate 10. At the location of the dam 12, the dam 12 is stacked with the first cushion structure 40 and the second cushion structure 60 in sequence. Such a setting can further increase the height at the stacking position, thereby further reducing the height difference between the stacking position and other positions of the display panel, adjusting the height of the neutral plane at the stacking position, and reducing the stress at the stacking position when the display panel is peeled off from the rigid substrate. Moreover, the design of the groove 11 and the dam 12 on the substrate 10 can disperse the peeling stress and avoid wrinkling and warping caused by stress concentration. In addition, the first cushion structure 40 and the second cushion structure 60 can also be used to cover the dam 12 to prevent warping and peeling of the film layer between the dam 12 and the film layer below it.

[0062] In some embodiments, Figure 11 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 11 As shown, the groove 11 includes a first groove 11-1, which is the first groove pointing from the display area AA to the non-display area NA. The display panel includes an organic layer located on the same side of the substrate 10 as the second pad structure 60. The organic layer includes at least a planarization layer 26 in the array layer 20 and a pixel definition layer 32 in the display layer 30. The planarization layer 26 and the pixel definition layer 32 extend from the display area AA to the non-display area NA, respectively, and the edges of the planarization layer 26 and the pixel definition layer 32 both terminate on the side of the first groove 11 near the display area AA. In this embodiment of the present invention, the second pad structure 60 does not contact the planarization layer 26, and the second pad structure 60 does not contact the pixel definition layer 32. In other words, the second pad structure 60 does not contact the edge of the organic layer in the display panel extending from the display area AA to the non-display area NA. This arrangement can prevent water and oxygen from entering the organic layer in the display area AA through the second pad structure 60, preventing water and oxygen from entering the display area AA and affecting device performance, thereby improving the performance and reliability of the display panel.

[0063] In some embodiments, the display panel further includes a touch layer comprising touch electrodes, which enables the display panel to implement touch functionality. The touch layer is located on a side of the display layer 30 away from the array layer 20 and includes an organic protective layer comprising an organic material. The second pad structure 60 does not contact the organic protective layer in the touch layer.

[0064] In some embodiments, the second pad layer structure 60 and the planarization layer 26 are made of the same layer and material. The second pad layer structure 60 and the planarization layer 26 can be manufactured in the same process. Setting the second pad layer structure 60 does not require adding a new process, which can simplify the process.

[0065] In some embodiments, the second pad layer structure 60 and the pixel definition layer 32 are made of the same layer and material. The second pad layer structure 60 and the pixel definition layer 32 can be manufactured in the same process. Setting the second pad layer structure 60 does not require adding a new process, which can simplify the process.

[0066] like Figure 10 or Figure 11 As shown, the second cushion structure 60 stacked with two adjacent dams 12 is connected to each other as a whole. The second cushion structure 60 comprises an organic material, which provides a certain degree of fluidity during initial fabrication. This allows a single second cushion structure 60 to cover all corresponding locations of the dams 12 within the non-display area NA. This reduces the manufacturing precision requirements for the second cushion structure 60, thus reducing the manufacturing complexity.

[0067] In another embodiment, Figure 12 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 12 As shown, in the non-display area NA, at least two dams 12 are arranged in a direction from the display area AA toward the non-display area NA. The dams 12 include adjacent first and second dams 12-1 and 12-2. The second padding structure 60, which is stacked with the first and second dams 12-1 and 12-2, is disconnected. This arrangement blocks the path for water and oxygen to intrude toward the display area AA between adjacent second padding structures 60, preventing water and oxygen from entering the organic layers within the display area AA through the second padding structures 60. This prevents water and oxygen from entering the display area AA and affecting device performance, thereby improving the reliability of the display panel.

[0068] In another embodiment, Figure 13 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 13 As shown, the substrate 10 has a cutting edge B, and the side of the second cushion layer structure 60 away from the display area AA is flush with the cutting edge B. It can be understood that the preset cutting path in the display panel motherboard to be cut is located between two adjacent display panels to be cut. When the display panel is manufactured, the second cushion layer structure 60 is set to overlap with the preset cutting path, and after cutting along the cutting path, the side of the second cushion layer structure 60 away from the display area AA is flush with the cutting edge B. The display panel provided by this embodiment does not need to deliberately avoid the preset cutting path when manufacturing the second cushion layer structure 60. In addition, Figure 13 In the embodiment, a second pad structure 60 is further provided which is not in contact with the organic layer in the display area AA, thereby preventing water and oxygen from entering the organic layer in the display area AA through the second pad structure 60, thereby preventing water and oxygen from entering the display area AA and affecting device performance, thereby improving the performance reliability of the display panel.

[0069] In another embodiment, Figure 14 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 14 As shown, the array layer 20 includes a planarization layer 26, which is an organic layer, wherein the first second pad structure 60-1 is in contact with the planarization layer 26, the second second pad structure 60-2 is adjacent to the first second pad structure 60-1, and the second second pad structure 60-2 is not in contact with the first second pad structure 60-1. The second second pad structure 60-2 and the first second pad structure 60-1 can be stacked with one dam 12, or with two or more dams 12. This embodiment can use the non-contacting second second pad structure 60-2 and the first second pad structure 60-1 to block the path of water and oxygen intrusion, preventing water and oxygen from entering the display area AA and affecting device performance, thereby improving the performance reliability of the display panel.

[0070] In another embodiment, Figure 15 A schematic diagram of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 15 As shown, the display panel further includes a touch layer 70 located on a side of the display layer 30 away from the array layer 20. The touch layer 70 includes an organic protective layer 71. The second pad structure 60 is made of the same material as the organic protective layer 71. In embodiments, the second pad structure 60 can be manufactured in the same process as the organic protective layer 71. The provision of the second pad structure 60 does not require the addition of a new process, thereby simplifying the process and improving productivity.

[0071] Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a display device, Figure 16 A schematic diagram of a display device provided by an embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 16 As shown, the display device includes a display panel 001 provided by any embodiment of the present invention. The structure of the display panel 001 has been described in the above embodiment and will not be repeated here. The display device provided by the embodiment of the present invention can be any device with a display function, such as a mobile phone, tablet computer, laptop computer, television, etc.

[0072] 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 in the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0073] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements 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 display panel includes a substrate, an array layer located on one side of the substrate, and a display layer; A side of the substrate close to the array layer has a groove and a dam, the groove and the dam are located in the non-display area, and a portion of the substrate located between two adjacent grooves forms the dam; The display panel further includes a first pad layer structure, the first pad layer structure including an inorganic material; the first pad layer structure is stacked on one side of the dam in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the substrate; The substrate includes a stacked first and second flexible layers; The display panel includes an inorganic layer located on the same side of the substrate as the first pad structure, and the inorganic layer extends from the display area to the non-display area; The first pad structure does not contact the edge of the inorganic layer.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The first flexible layer is located on a side of the second flexible layer close to the array layer; and the groove at least penetrates the first flexible layer.

3. The display panel according to claim 2, wherein: Along a direction perpendicular to the plane of the substrate, a depth of the groove extending into the second flexible layer is less than a thickness of the second flexible layer.

4. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The orthographic projection of the first cushion structure on the plane where the substrate is located covers the dam.

5. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The first cushion structure is in contact with a surface of the dam.

6. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The groove includes a first groove, which is the first groove in a direction from the display area to the non-display area; An edge of the inorganic layer is terminated at a side of the first groove close to the display area.

7. The display panel according to claim 1 or 6, wherein: In the non-display area, at least two dams are arranged in a direction from the display area to the non-display area; the dams include a first dam and a second dam that are adjacent to each other; The first cushion structure stacked with the first dam and the second dam, respectively, is not connected.

8. The display panel according to claim 7, wherein: One dam corresponds to one first cushion layer structure, wherein the first cushion layer structures stacked respectively with any two adjacent dams are not connected.

9. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The display panel further includes a second pad layer structure, which includes an organic material; the second pad layer structure is located on a side of the first pad layer structure away from the substrate.

10. The display panel according to claim 9, wherein: The groove includes a first groove, which is the first groove in a direction from the display area to the non-display area; The display panel includes an organic layer located on the same side of the substrate as the second pad structure, the organic layer extends from the display area to the non-display area, and an edge of the organic layer is terminated at a side of the first groove close to the display area; The second pad structure does not contact the edge of the organic layer.

11. The display panel according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: In the non-display area, at least two dams are arranged in a direction from the display area to the non-display area; the dams include a first dam and a second dam that are adjacent to each other; The second cushion structure stacked with the first dam and the second dam, respectively, is not connected.

12. The display panel according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: The second cushion layer structures stacked on two adjacent dams are connected to each other as a whole.

13. The display panel according to claim 9, wherein: The substrate has a cutting edge, and a side of the second pad layer structure away from the display area is flush with the cutting edge.

14. The display panel according to claim 9, wherein: The display panel further includes a touch layer located on a side of the display layer away from the array layer, the touch layer including an organic protective layer; The material of the second pad structure is the same as that of the organic protective layer.

15. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein An extending direction of the groove is the same as an extending direction of an edge of the display area.

16. The display panel according to claim 15, wherein: The groove surrounds the display area to form a through groove.

17. The display panel according to claim 15, wherein: At least two unconnected grooves are arranged along a direction surrounding the display area.

18. A display device, characterized in that: The display panel comprises the display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

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