Display Panel

Abstract

The present application provides a display panel, which includes a substrate, a flat layer, a first electrode layer, a light-emitting layer, a cathode and a touch sub-electrode. By setting a touch undercut opening on the periphery of the light-emitting area of ​​the display panel, the touch sub-electrode and the cathode are isolated from each other by the touch undercut opening, thereby reducing the interference between the touch signal and the display signal.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] In-cell touch technology is the ultimate solution for integrated touch functions pursued by active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display manufacturers. The commonly used driving and reading method is to insert the touch sensing cycle into the display cycle. Since the touch sensing time is extremely short, the human eye is not able to distinguish it, but the display time is compressed, which requires higher pixel driving capabilities.

[0003] Since the touch sensing time is extremely short, the touch sensing signal is very weak, and the embedded touch electrode is far away from the finger and is on the same layer as the pixel drive electrode or signal electrode, which makes the noise signal interfere more, resulting in mutual interference between the touch signal and the display signal.

[0004] In summary, the existing embedded touch display panel has the problem of mutual interference between touch signals and display signals. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a display panel to improve this defect. Summary of the invention

[0005] The embodiment of the present application provides a display panel that can improve the problem of mutual interference between touch signals and display signals.

[0006] An embodiment of the present application provides a display panel, including a display area, wherein a plurality of light-emitting areas distributed in an array are arranged in the display area, and the display panel further includes:

[0007] substrate;

[0008] A flat layer disposed on the substrate;

[0009] A first electrode layer is disposed on a side of the planar layer away from the substrate;

[0010] a light-emitting layer, at least disposed on a side of the first electrode layer away from the substrate; and

[0011] A plurality of cathodes and a plurality of touch sub-electrodes, wherein the cathode is arranged on a side of the light-emitting layer away from the substrate;

[0012] Among them, a touch undercut opening is set at the periphery of the light-emitting area, the touch undercut opening is recessed in the flat layer, the cathode is set outside the touch undercut opening, the touch sub-electrode is set in the touch undercut opening, and the touch sub-electrode is separated from the cathode.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present application, the touch undercut opening and the touch sub-electrode at least partially surround the light emitting area.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present application, the display panel also includes a shielding structure, which is arranged on the side of the flat layer away from the substrate, the cathode is arranged on the side of the shielding structure away from the substrate, the touch undercut opening includes a first opening formed by the shielding structure and a second opening formed by the flat layer, the touch sub-electrode is arranged at the bottom of the second opening, the first opening is connected to the second opening, and the width of the first opening is smaller than the width of the second opening.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present application, the display panel further includes a cathode strapping electrode, and the cathode strapping electrode is disposed on a side of the first electrode layer close to the substrate;

[0016] A cathode undercut opening is provided at the edge of the light emitting area, the cathode undercut opening is recessed into the flat layer and exposes the cathode lap electrode, and the cathode in the light emitting area extends into the cathode undercut opening and contacts the cathode lap electrode.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present application, the cathode undercut opening includes a third opening, the third opening is disposed on the flat layer and exposes the cathode lap electrode, and the shielding structure partially covers the third opening;

[0018] The cathode is continuously arranged at a portion of the third opening close to the light emitting area and the light emitting area, and is in contact with the cathode lap electrode at the bottom of the third opening.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present application, the planar layer includes a first planar layer and a second planar layer, and the second planar layer is arranged on a side of the first planar layer away from the substrate;

[0020] Wherein, the cathode bonding electrode is arranged between the first flat layer and the second flat layer.

[0021] According to an embodiment of the present application, the display panel further includes a first source-drain electrode layer and a second source-drain electrode layer disposed on the substrate, wherein the second source-drain electrode layer is disposed on a side of the first source-drain electrode layer away from the substrate;

[0022] The cathode lap electrode is arranged in the same layer as the second source-drain electrode layer, and is made of the same material as the second source-drain electrode layer.

[0023] According to an embodiment of the present application, the touch display panel further includes a touch bonding electrode, the touch bonding electrode is disposed at the bottom of the second opening, and the second opening exposes at least a portion of the touch bonding electrode;

[0024] The touch sub-electrode is arranged on a side of the touch bonding electrode away from the substrate, and is in contact with the touch bonding electrode.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the present application, the shielding structure is disposed on a side of the second flat layer away from the first flat layer, and the second opening at least penetrates the second flat layer.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the present application, the shielding structure is disposed in the same layer as the first electrode layer, and is made of the same material as the first electrode layer.

[0027] According to an embodiment of the present application, the touch strapping electrode is disposed in the same layer as the second source-drain electrode layer, and is made of the same material as the second source-drain electrode layer.

[0028] According to an embodiment of the present application, the touch strapping electrode is disposed in the same layer as the first source-drain electrode layer and is made of the same material as the first source-drain electrode layer, and the second opening penetrates the second planar layer and the first planar layer.

[0029] According to an embodiment of the present application, the shielding structure is provided in the same layer as the second source-drain electrode layer, and is made of the same material as the second source-drain electrode layer.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the present application, the touch strapping electrode is disposed in the same layer as the first source-drain electrode layer and is made of the same material as the first source-drain electrode layer, and the second opening penetrates the first planar layer.

[0031] According to an embodiment of the present application, a plurality of pixel units are arranged in the display area, and each of the pixel units includes at least two light-emitting areas;

[0032] Wherein, the touch sub-electrodes corresponding to adjacent light-emitting areas in the same pixel unit are electrically connected;

[0033] The touch sub-electrodes corresponding to the pixel units distributed in a matrix are electrically connected to form a touch electrode.

[0034] According to an embodiment of the present application, a first connecting portion is provided between adjacent light-emitting areas in the same pixel unit, and the first connecting portion is electrically connected to the touch sub-electrode;

[0035] Wherein, the first connecting portion is arranged on a side of the touch sub-electrode close to the substrate.

[0036] According to an embodiment of the present application, a second connecting portion is provided between adjacent pixel units corresponding to the same touch electrode, and the second connecting portion is electrically connected to the touch sub-electrode;

[0037] Wherein, the second connecting portion is arranged on a side of the touch sub-electrode close to the substrate.

[0038] Beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present application: The embodiments of the present application provide a display panel, which includes a substrate, a flat layer, a first electrode layer, a light-emitting layer, multiple cathodes and multiple touch sub-electrodes, a touch undercut opening is arranged at the periphery of the light-emitting area, the touch undercut opening is recessed in the flat layer, the cathode is arranged outside the touch undercut opening, the touch sub-electrode is arranged in the touch undercut opening, and the touch sub-electrode is separated from the cathode, the touch sub-electrode and the cathode are isolated from each other by the touch undercut opening, thereby reducing interference between the touch signal and the display signal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments or the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0040] Figure 1 A schematic plan view of a first type of light-emitting area and its surrounding area provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view of a first display panel along the AA direction provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of the undercut opening provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Figure 4 A schematic plan view of a second light-emitting area and its surrounding area provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] Figure 5 A schematic cross-sectional view of a second display panel along the AA direction provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 6 A schematic cross-sectional view of a third display panel along the AA direction provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] Figure 7 A schematic plan view of a pixel unit provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Figure 8 A schematic plan view of a touch electrode provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] Fig. 9 A plan view schematically showing the connection of touch electrodes provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] The following descriptions of the embodiments are made with reference to the attached drawings to illustrate specific embodiments that the present application may be implemented in. The directional terms mentioned in the present application, such as [up], [down], [front], [back], [left], [right], [inside], [outside], [side], etc., are only with reference to the directions of the attached drawings. Therefore, the directional terms used are used to illustrate and understand the present application, rather than to limit the present application. In the drawings, units with similar structures are represented by the same reference numerals.

[0050] The present application is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0051] The embodiments of the present application provide a display panel, which can reduce the problem of mutual interference between touch signals and display signals in an embedded touch display panel.

[0052] The display panel includes a display area, which is mainly used to realize the function of displaying images. A plurality of luminous areas EA distributed in an array are arranged in the display area, and the part defined by each luminous area EA can be regarded as a sub-pixel for emitting light.

[0053] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, Figure 1 A schematic plan view of a first type of light-emitting area and its surrounding area provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 The present invention provides a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a first display panel along the AA direction provided in an embodiment of the present application, wherein the display panel comprises at least a substrate 10, a flat layer 31, a first electrode layer 32, a light-emitting layer 33, a cathode 34 and a touch sub-electrode 38, wherein the flat layer 31 is arranged on the substrate 10, the first electrode layer 32 is arranged on a side of the flat layer 31 facing away from the substrate 10, the light-emitting layer 33 is at least arranged on a side of the first electrode layer 32 facing away from the substrate 10, and the cathode 34 is at least arranged on a side of the light-emitting layer 33 facing away from the substrate.

[0054] It should be noted that being disposed on the substrate 10 may refer to being in direct contact with the substrate 10 or indirect contact with the substrate 10 .

[0055] In one embodiment, the substrate 10 may be a flexible transparent substrate, and the material of the substrate 10 may be but is not limited to a flexible transparent organic material such as polyimide. In some other embodiments, the substrate 10 may also be a hard transparent substrate, such as a glass substrate.

[0056] In one embodiment, if Figure 2 As shown, the display panel may include a driving circuit layer 20, the driving circuit layer 20 is disposed on the substrate 10, and the flat layer 31 is disposed on a side of the driving circuit layer 20 away from the substrate 10. A pixel driving circuit for driving the light-emitting device to emit light is disposed in the driving circuit layer 20, and the pixel driving circuit may include a plurality of thin film transistors, data lines, scanning lines, capacitors and other devices.

[0057] The driving circuit layer 20 may include but is not limited to a buffer layer 21, an active layer 22, a first gate insulating layer 23, a first gate metal layer 24, a second gate insulating layer 25, a second gate metal layer 26, an interlayer dielectric layer 27, a first source-drain electrode layer 28 and a second source-drain electrode layer 29 stacked on the substrate 10.

[0058] A plurality of patterned anodes 321 may be disposed in the first electrode layer 32 , and the anodes 321 are disposed in the light emitting area EA.

[0059] The display panel further includes a pixel definition layer 35, which is disposed on a side of the planar layer 31 away from the substrate 10 and covers the first electrode layer 32. A plurality of pixel openings are disposed on the pixel definition layer 35, and the pixel openings are disposed in the light emitting area EA. The pixel openings penetrate the pixel definition layer 35 in the thickness direction of the display panel and expose the anode 321.

[0060] A plurality of support columns 37 may be further provided on the surface of the pixel definition layer 35 facing away from the substrate 10 , and the support columns 37 may be used to support a mask plate required for forming the light emitting layer 33 , the cathode 34 , and the touch sub-electrode 38 by evaporation.

[0061] The light-emitting layer 33 may include a common layer 330 and an organic light-emitting material layer. The common layer 330 may include but is not limited to a stacked hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an electron transport layer and an electron injection layer. The organic light-emitting material layer may be disposed between the hole transport layer and the electron transport layer. The common layer 330 may be deposited on the surface of the pixel definition layer 35 on the side away from the substrate 10 by full-surface evaporation, and the organic light-emitting material layer may be disposed only in the pixel opening.

[0062] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a touch undercut opening OH1 is provided at the periphery of the light emitting area EA, the touch undercut opening OH1 is recessed into the flat layer 31 , the cathode 34 is provided outside the touch undercut opening OH1 , the touch sub-electrode 38 is provided in the touch undercut opening OH1 , and the touch sub-electrode 38 is separated from the cathode 34 .

[0063] It should be noted that the cathode 34 and the touch sub-electrode 38 can be formed by being deposited simultaneously by whole-surface evaporation. By setting a touch undercut opening OH1 at the periphery of the light-emitting area EA, during the evaporation process, the material deposited in the touch undercut opening OH1 can be disconnected from the material deposited at the edge of the touch undercut opening OH1. The material deposited in the touch undercut opening OH1 forms the touch sub-electrode 38, and the material deposited outside the touch undercut opening OH1 forms the cathode 34. In this way, the cathode 34 and the touch sub-electrode 38 can be separated by the touch undercut opening OH1, thereby reducing the interference between the display signal and the touch signal.

[0064] like Figure 1 As shown, the cathode 34 is arranged above the edges of the touch undercut opening OH1, and the touch sub-electrode 38 is arranged at the bottom of the touch undercut opening OH1. A height difference is formed between the touch sub-electrode 38 and the cathode 34, and a metal film layer that can connect the cathode 34 with the touch sub-electrode 38 is not deposited on the side wall of the undercut opening OH1. The touch sub-electrode 38 is disconnected from the cathode 34 at the edge of the touch undercut opening OH1.

[0065] Furthermore, the touch undercut opening OH1 and the touch sub-electrode 38 at least partially surround the light emitting area EA.

[0066] In one embodiment, if Figure 1 As shown, the touch undercut opening OH1 and the touch sub-electrode 38 are both disposed around the light emitting area EA, and form a structure that fully surrounds the light emitting area EA.

[0067] Furthermore, the display panel also includes a shielding structure 40, the shielding structure 40 is arranged on the side of the planar layer 31 away from the substrate 10, the cathode 34 is arranged on the side of the shielding structure 40 away from the substrate 10, and the touch undercut opening OH1 includes a first opening OH11 formed by the shielding structure 40 and a second opening OH12 formed by the planar layer 31.

[0068] The second opening OH12 is arranged on the planar layer 31, the first opening OH11 is located on the side of the second opening OH12 away from the substrate 10 and is connected to the second opening OH12, the touch sub-electrode 38 is arranged at the bottom of the second opening OH2, and the width of the first opening OH11 is smaller than the width of the second opening OH12.

[0069] like Figure 2 As shown, in the cross-sectional direction of AA, the width of the first opening OH1 is smaller than the width of the second opening OH2, and the edge of the first opening OH1 exceeds the edge of the second opening OH2. During the deposition process of forming the common layer 330, the cathode 34, and the touch sub-electrode 38, the portion of the edge of the first opening OH1 that exceeds the edge of the second opening OH2 can block the portion below the second opening OH2, and the material of the common layer 330 and the electrode material of the cathode 34 cannot be deposited on the area blocked by the edge of the first opening OH1 and the sidewall of the planar layer 31 exposed by the second opening OH2.

[0070] Furthermore, the edges of the touch sub-electrode 38 close to the light emitting area EA are separated from the cathode 34 , and the edges of the touch sub-electrode 38 away from the light emitting area EA are separated from the cathode 34 .

[0071] like Figure 1 As shown, the first opening OH11 divides the shielding structure 40 into a first shielding structure 41 and a second shielding structure 42. The first shielding structure 41 and the second shielding structure 42 are both arranged around the light-emitting area EA and form a fully surrounding structure for the light-emitting area EA. The first shielding structure 41 is arranged on a side of the first opening OH11 close to the light-emitting area EA, and the second shielding structure 42 is arranged on a side of the first opening OH11 away from the light-emitting area EA. The gap between the first shielding structure 41 and the second shielding structure 42 is the first opening OH11.

[0072] Figure 3 As shown, Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the structure at the undercut opening provided in an embodiment of the present application, at the touch undercut opening OH1, the first shielding structure 41 is arranged on the flat layer 31, and the first shielding structure 41 has a first protrusion 410 extending beyond the flat layer 31 on the side close to the second shielding structure 42, and the first protrusion 410 and the flat layer 31 form a first undercut structure UC1, and the touch sub-electrode 38 and the cathode 34 are separated at the first undercut structure UC1, so that the touch sub-electrode 38 can be disconnected from the cathode 34 in the light-emitting area EA.

[0073] The second shielding structure 42 is arranged on the flat layer 31. The second shielding structure 42 has a second protrusion 420 extending beyond the flat layer 31 on one side close to the first shielding structure 41. The second protrusion 420 and the flat layer 31 form a second undercut structure UC2, so that the touch sub-electrode 38 can be disconnected from the cathode 34 above the second shielding structure 42.

[0074] The first shielding structure 41 completely surrounds the light emitting area EA, so that the cathode 34 in the light emitting area EA is completely isolated from the touch sub-electrode 38 in the touch undercut opening OH1, and the cathode 34 in the light emitting area EA presents a block structure adapted to the first shielding structure 41.

[0075] The first opening OH11 completely surrounds the first shielding structure 41 , and the second shielding structure 42 completely surrounds the first opening OH11 , so that the cathode 34 above the second shielding structure 42 can be completely isolated from the touch sub-electrode 38 in the touch undercut opening OH1 .

[0076] In one embodiment, if Figure 4 As shown, Figure 4 This is a schematic plan view of the second type of light-emitting area and the periphery of the light-emitting area provided in the embodiment of the present application. The touch undercut opening OH1 can also partially surround the light-emitting area EA. The first shielding structure 41 and the second shielding structure 42 are not completely separated, but are connected to each other on the side away from the undercut opening OH1. In this way, the cathode 34 and the touch sub-electrode 38 can also be separated from each other to reduce the problem of interference between the touch signal and the display signal.

[0077] Furthermore, the display panel further includes a cathode bonding electrode 50 , and the cathode bonding electrode 50 is disposed on a side of the first electrode layer 32 close to the substrate 10 .

[0078] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a cathode undercut opening OH2 is provided at the edge of the light emitting area EA, and the cathode undercut opening OH2 is recessed into the planar layer 31 and exposes the cathode overlapping electrode 50 . The cathode 34 in the light emitting area EA extends into the cathode undercut opening OH2 and contacts the cathode overlapping electrode 50 .

[0079] The cathode bonding electrode 50 can be used to transfer the display signal transmitted by the signal line to the cathode 34 in the light-emitting area EA. The display signal can be a constant voltage and low potential power supply signal.

[0080] Since the cathode 34 on the second shielding structure 42 and the second shielding structure 42 on the side away from the light-emitting area EA are not connected to the cathode 34 in the light-emitting area EA, the cathode 34 on the second shielding structure 42 and the second shielding structure 42 on the side away from the light-emitting area EA can be regarded as redundant cathodes that do not receive any electrical signals, and only the cathode 34 in the closed area surrounded by the touch bottom cut opening OH1 can be used to receive electrical signals. This can reduce the area of ​​the cathode 34 used to transmit electrical signals, thereby further reducing the interference between the display signal and the touch signal.

[0081] Furthermore, combined with Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the cathode undercut opening OH2 includes a third opening OH21, the third opening OH21 is arranged on the flat layer 31 and exposes the cathode overlapping electrode 50, the shielding structure 40 partially covers the third opening OH21, the cathode 34 is continuously arranged in the part of the third opening OH21 close to the light-emitting area EA and the light-emitting area EA, and contacts the cathode overlapping electrode 50 at the bottom of the third opening OH3.

[0082] Specifically, at the cathode undercut opening OH2, the area spaced apart from each other by the first shielding structure 41 and the anode 321 exposes the third opening OH21 and the cathode lap electrode 50, and the cathode lap electrode 50 is arranged at the bottom of the third opening OH21, and the side of the first shielding structure 41 close to the light-emitting area EA has a third protrusion 411 extending beyond the flat layer 31, and the third protrusion 411 covers the portion of the third opening OH21 away from the light-emitting area EA, and the third protrusion 411 and the flat layer 31 form a third undercut structure UC3, and the cathode 34 extends into the third undercut structure UC3 through the light-emitting area EA and contacts the cathode lap electrode 50.

[0083] In one embodiment, if Figure 2 As shown, the planar layer 31 includes a first planar layer 311 and a second planar layer 312 , the second planar layer 312 is disposed on a side of the first planar layer 311 away from the substrate 10 , and the cathode bonding electrode 50 is disposed between the first planar layer 311 and the second planar layer 312 .

[0084] The cathode undercut opening OH2 penetrates the second planar layer 312 in the thickness direction of the display panel and exposes a portion of the cathode lapped electrode 50. At the cathode undercut opening OH2, the first shielding structure 41 has a third protrusion 411 extending beyond the planar layer 31 on the side close to the light-emitting area EA, and the third protrusion 411 forms a third undercut structure UC3 with the planar layer 31. When the cathode 34 is deposited, the electrode material deposited in the third undercut structure UC3 is disconnected from the electrode material deposited above the first shielding structure 41 at the third undercut structure UC, and extends into the third undercut structure UC3 to contact the cathode lapped electrode 50 exposed by the cathode undercut opening OH2.

[0085] Furthermore, the cathode bonding electrode 50 is provided in the same layer as the second source-drain electrode layer 29 , and is made of the same material as the second source-drain electrode layer 29 .

[0086] In one embodiment, if Figure 2 As shown, the cathode overlapping electrode 50 and the second source-drain electrode layer 29 are both arranged between the first flat layer 311 and the second flat layer 312. In this way, the cathode overlapping electrode 50 can be prepared and formed by utilizing the existing composition process of the second source-drain electrode layer 29, thereby eliminating the need to add a new film layer on the basis of the existing display panel film layer structure and the need to add new process steps.

[0087] In one embodiment, the second source-drain electrode layer 29 and the cathode bonding electrode 50 may be a Ti / Al / Ti three-layer composite metal structure formed by superposition of aluminum and titanium. In some other embodiments, the second source-drain electrode layer 29 and the cathode bonding electrode 50 may also be a single-layer metal structure formed by metal copper (Cu), or a Mo / Al / Mo three-layer composite metal structure formed by superposition of molybdenum and aluminum.

[0088] Furthermore, the touch display panel also includes a touch bonding electrode 60, which is arranged at the bottom of the second opening OH12, and the second opening OH12 exposes at least a portion of the touch bonding electrode 60, and the touch sub-electrode 38 is arranged on a side of the touch bonding electrode 60 away from the substrate 10, and is in contact with the touch bonding electrode 60.

[0089] The touch bonding electrode 60 may be used to transfer the touch signal transmitted by the touch signal routing to the touch sub-electrode 38 .

[0090] Since the common layer 330, the cathode 34 and the touch sub-electrode 38 are all prepared by the whole-surface evaporation process, at the touch undercut opening OH1, the common layer 330 is also deposited on the touch bonding electrode 60 exposed by the second opening OH12, and is separated from the common layer 330 on the side of the shielding structure 40 away from the substrate 10. The touch sub-electrode 38 is formed on the side of the common layer 330 away from the touch bonding electrode 60, and completely covers the common layer 330, and is in contact with the touch bonding electrode 60 at the edges around the common layer 330.

[0091] In one embodiment, the cathode 34 and the touch sub-electrode 38 are both double-layer structures. In the actual process of preparing the cathode 34 and the touch sub-electrode 38, the cathode 34 and the touch sub-electrode 38 can be formed by evaporation + sputtering, that is, a layer of electrode material is first deposited by evaporation, and then another layer of electrode material is deposited on the layer of electrode material by sputtering to form the cathode 34 and the touch sub-electrode 38 with a double-layer structure, so that the touch sub-electrode 38 can completely cover the common layer 330, and the edges around the common layer 330 are in contact with the touch lap electrode 60.

[0092] Similarly, at the cathode undercut opening OH2, the portion of the common layer 330 deposited in the third undercut structure UC3 will be separated from the portion of the common layer 330 deposited above the first shielding structure 41. In this way, it can be ensured that the cathode in the light-emitting area EA can completely cover the common layer 330 in the third undercut structure UC3 and contact the cathode lap electrode 50.

[0093] Furthermore, the shielding structure 40 is disposed on a side of the second planar layer 312 away from the first planar layer 311 , and the second opening OH2 at least penetrates the second planar layer 312 .

[0094] In one embodiment, the shielding structure 40 and the first electrode layer 32 are both disposed on the surface of the second flat layer 312 on the side away from the first flat layer 311. The shielding structure 40 and the first electrode layer 32 can be disposed in the same layer and made of the same material as the first electrode layer 32. In this way, the shielding structure 40 can be prepared and formed at the same time by utilizing the patterning process of the first electrode layer 32, thereby eliminating the need to add a new film layer on the basis of the existing display panel film layer structure and eliminating the need to add a new process step.

[0095] Furthermore, the touch-control bonding electrode 60 is disposed in the same layer as the second source-drain electrode layer 29 , and is made of the same material as the second source-drain electrode layer 29 .

[0096] like Figure 2 As shown, the touch strapping electrode 60 and the second source-drain electrode layer 29 are both disposed between the first planar layer 311 and the second planar layer 312, and the second opening OH12 penetrates the second planar layer 312 and exposes a portion of the touch strapping electrode 60. The material of the touch strapping electrode 60 can refer to the material of the second source-drain electrode layer 29 mentioned above, and will not be described in detail here.

[0097] In the actual preparation process, the existing patterning process of the second source-drain electrode layer 29 can be used to simultaneously prepare the touch-control bridging electrode 60, thereby eliminating the need to add a new film layer on the basis of the existing display panel film layer structure and adding new process steps.

[0098] In one embodiment, if Figure 5 As shown, Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a second display panel along the AA direction provided in an embodiment of the present application, and its structure is similar to Figure 2 The structure of the first display panel is substantially the same, except that the touch-control bonding electrode 60 is disposed in the same layer as the first source-drain electrode layer 28 .

[0099] like Figure 5 As shown, the first source-drain electrode layer 28 is disposed between the interlayer dielectric layer 27 and the first planar layer 311 , and the second opening OH12 sequentially penetrates the second planar layer 312 and the first planar layer 311 and exposes a portion of the touch-control bonding electrode 60 .

[0100] The touch-control bonding electrode 60 may be made of the same material as the first source-drain electrode layer 28. In this way, the touch-control bonding electrode 60 may be formed by utilizing the patterning process of the first source-drain electrode layer 28, thereby eliminating the need to add a new film layer to the existing display panel film structure and eliminating the need to add a new process step.

[0101] The material of the first source-drain electrode layer 28 may refer to the material of the second source-drain electrode layer 29 mentioned above. The material of the first source-drain electrode layer 28 may be the same as the material of the second source-drain electrode layer 29 , which is not limited here.

[0102] In one embodiment, if Figure 6 As shown, Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a third display panel along the AA direction provided in an embodiment of the present application, and its structure is similar to Figure 5The structure of the second display panel is substantially the same as that of the second source-drain electrode layer 29 , except that the shielding structure 40 is disposed on the same layer as the second source-drain electrode layer 29 .

[0103] like Figure 6 As shown, the shielding structure 40 and the second source-drain electrode layer 29 are both disposed between the first flat layer 311 and the second flat layer 312, and the shielding structure 40 can be prepared by using the same material as the second source-drain electrode layer 29. In this way, the shielding structure 40 can be prepared and formed simultaneously by utilizing the patterning process of the second source-drain electrode layer 29, thereby eliminating the need to add a new film layer on the basis of the existing display panel film layer structure, and eliminating the need to add a new process step.

[0104] The touch strap electrode 60 and the first source-drain electrode layer 28 are both disposed between the interlayer dielectric layer 27 and the first planar layer 311 . The second opening OH12 penetrates the first planar layer 311 and exposes a portion of the touch strap electrode 60 .

[0105] Furthermore, the display panel further includes an encapsulation layer 36 , and the encapsulation layer 36 is at least disposed on a side of the cathode 34 away from the substrate 10 .

[0106] like Figure 2 As shown, the encapsulation layer 36 is a thin film encapsulation layer, which may include a first inorganic encapsulation layer 361, an organic encapsulation layer 362 and a second inorganic encapsulation layer 363 which are stacked in sequence. The first inorganic encapsulation layer 361 entirely covers the side of the light-emitting layer 33 which is away from the substrate 10, and is continuously arranged at the touch undercut opening OH1 and the cathode undercut opening OH2. This can prevent water vapor and oxygen in the external environment from penetrating into the light-emitting area EA through the touch undercut opening OH1 and the cathode undercut opening OH2 to damage the light-emitting device, thereby improving the encapsulation effect of the display panel.

[0107] The organic encapsulation layer 362 is disposed on the side of the first inorganic encapsulation layer 361 away from the substrate 10, and can fill the concave surface formed by the touch undercut opening OH1, the cathode undercut opening OH2 and other openings. The second inorganic encapsulation layer 363 is disposed on the surface of the side of the organic encapsulation layer 362 away from the substrate 10, and can contact the first inorganic encapsulation layer 361 in the non-display area to prevent the organic encapsulation layer 362 from overflowing.

[0108] Furthermore, a plurality of pixel units are arranged in the display area, each of the pixel units includes at least two light-emitting areas, and the touch sub-electrodes corresponding to adjacent light-emitting areas in the same pixel unit are electrically connected.

[0109] like Figure 7 As shown, Figure 7 This is a plan view of a pixel unit provided in an embodiment of the present application. Each of the pixel units P includes four light-emitting areas EA, and the four light-emitting areas EA are equivalent to four sub-pixels.

[0110] In one embodiment, each of the pixel units P may include a first light emitting area EA1, a second light emitting area EA2 and two third light emitting areas EA3, and the first light emitting area EA1, the second light emitting area EA2 and the third light emitting area EA3 may emit different light.

[0111] For example, the first light emitting area EA1 may emit red light, the second light emitting area EA2 may emit green light, and the third light emitting area EA3 may emit blue light.

[0112] In practical applications, the colors of the light emitted by the first light-emitting area EA1, the second light-emitting area EA2 and the third light-emitting area EA3 can be adjusted according to actual needs, and are not limited to the color allocation method in the above embodiment.

[0113] The four light-emitting areas in the pixel unit P are distributed in a rectangular shape, wherein one of the first light-emitting areas EA1 and the second light-emitting area EA1 are distributed at two opposite right-angle vertices of the rectangle, and the two third light-emitting areas EA3 are respectively arranged at the other two opposite right-angle vertices of the rectangle. The touch sub-electrodes 38 on the periphery of the first light-emitting area EA1 are electrically connected to the touch sub-electrodes 38 on the periphery of the second light-emitting area EA2 adjacent in the horizontal and vertical directions, and the touch sub-electrodes 38 on the periphery of the second light-emitting area EA2 are electrically connected to the touch sub-electrodes 38 on the periphery of the second light-emitting area EA2 adjacent in the horizontal and vertical directions.

[0114] Furthermore, a first connecting portion is provided between adjacent light-emitting areas in the same pixel unit, and the first connecting portion is electrically connected to the touch sub-electrode.

[0115] by Figure 7 Taking the pixel unit shown as an example, a first connecting portion 71 is arranged between the first light-emitting area EA1 and the second light-emitting area EA2 adjacent in the horizontal and vertical directions. The first connecting portion 71 can contact the touch bonding electrode 60 under the two adjacent touch sub-electrodes 38, thereby electrically connecting the two adjacent touch sub-electrodes 38.

[0116] Furthermore, the first connecting portion 71 is disposed on a side of the touch sub-electrode 38 close to the substrate 10 .

[0117] In one embodiment, the first connection portion 71 may be disposed in the same layer as the touch bonding electrode 60 .

[0118] In one embodiment, in combination Figure 2 and Figure 7 As shown, the first connection portion 71 and the touch bonding electrode 60 are both arranged between the first flat layer 311 and the second flat layer 312, and are arranged in the same layer as the second source-drain electrode layer 29. The first connection portion 71 can be directly connected to the touch bonding electrode 60 arranged in the same layer.

[0119] In one embodiment, in combination Figure 2 and Figure 7 As shown, the touch bonding electrodes 60 are all disposed between the first flat layer 311 and the second flat layer 312 , and the first connecting portion 71 may also be disposed in the same layer as the first source-drain electrode layer 28 .

[0120] In some other embodiments, the first connection portion 71 may also be disposed in the same layer as the first gate metal layer 24 or the second gate metal layer 26 , and the touch bonding electrode 60 may contact the first connection portion 71 through a via hole in the insulating layer.

[0121] In one embodiment, in combination Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, the first connecting portion 71 and the touch strapping electrode 60 are both arranged between the first flat layer 311 and the interlayer dielectric layer 27, and are arranged in the same layer as the first source-drain electrode layer 28. The first connecting portion 71 can directly contact the touch strapping electrode 60 arranged in the same layer; or, the first connecting portion 71 can also be arranged in the same layer as the first gate metal layer 24 or the second gate metal layer 26, and contact the touch strapping electrode 60 through a via in the insulating layer.

[0122] Furthermore, the touch sub-electrodes 38 corresponding to the plurality of pixel units distributed in a matrix are electrically connected to form a touch electrode.

[0123] like Figure 8 As shown, Figure 8 This is a plan view of a touch electrode provided in an embodiment of the present application. A plurality of pixel units within a certain range are distributed in an array and form an aggregate P0. All the touch sub-electrodes 38 within the aggregate P0 together constitute a touch electrode.

[0124] In one embodiment, the outer contour shape of the aggregate P0 can be as follows: Figure 7In some other embodiments, the outer contour shape of the aggregate P0 is not limited to the square in the above embodiment, and can also be a rhombus, rectangle, polygon, circle or ellipse.

[0125] It should be noted that the aggregation P0 formed by a plurality of the pixel units within a certain range may refer to Figure 8 The number of pixel units that the aggregate P0 can contain is not limited to Figure 8 The number of pixel units shown can be set according to the actual touch accuracy requirements to determine the number of pixel units contained in the cluster.

[0126] Furthermore, a second connecting portion 72 is provided between adjacent pixel units corresponding to the same touch electrode, and the second connecting portion 72 is electrically connected to the touch sub-electrode 38 .

[0127] like Figure 7 The second connecting portion 72 is disposed between any two adjacent pixel units in the horizontal or vertical direction, and the second connecting portion 72 can contact the touch bonding electrode 60 below the touch sub-electrode 38 in the pixel unit.

[0128] In one embodiment, the second connection portion 72 can be arranged in the same layer as the first connection portion 71, and the film layer position of the second connection portion 72 can refer to the film layer position of the first connection portion 71 in the above text, which will not be repeated here. In some other embodiments, the second connection portion 72 and the first connection portion 71 can also be arranged in different film layers.

[0129] For example, the second connection portion 72 may be provided in the same layer as any one of the second source-drain electrode layer 29 , the first source-drain electrode layer 28 , the second gate metal layer 26 , and the first gate metal layer 24 .

[0130] In one embodiment, if Fig. 9 As shown, Fig. 9 The schematic plan view of the touch electrode connection provided in the embodiment of the present application shows that the touch type of the display panel is mutual capacitance touch, and the display panel may include a plurality of columns of touch transmitting electrodes TX and a plurality of columns of touch receiving electrodes RX which are arranged to intersect with the plurality of columns of touch transmitting electrodes TX.

[0131] Each column of the touch emitter electrodes TX may include a plurality of touch emitter electrodes TX. The plurality of touch emitter electrodes TX may be connected to each other via a third connecting portion 73. The third connecting portion 73 may be provided on the same layer as any one of the second source-drain electrode layer 29, the first source-drain electrode layer 28, the second gate metal layer 26, and the first gate metal layer 24.

[0132] Each column of the touch receiving electrodes RX may include multiple touch receiving electrodes RX, and the multiple touch receiving electrodes RX may be connected through a fourth connecting portion 74. The fourth connecting portion 74 may be arranged in the same layer as any one of the second source-drain electrode layer 29, the first source-drain electrode layer 28, the second gate metal layer 26 and the first gate metal layer 24.

[0133] At the intersection of the third connection part 73 and the fourth connection part 74 , a cross-line connection can be used for connection, and the film layer selected for the cross-line connection can be any one of the second source-drain electrode layer 29 , the first source-drain electrode layer 28 , the second gate metal layer 26 and the first gate metal layer 24 .

[0134] In the embodiment of the present application, the structures of the touch transmitting electrode TX and the touch receiving electrode RX are similar to Figure 7 The structures of the touch electrodes are the same and will not be described in detail here.

[0135] like Fig. 9 As shown in the dotted box, two adjacent touch transmitting electrodes TX and two adjacent touch receiving electrodes RX can form a touch point TP. The touch transmitting electrode TX and the touch receiving electrode RX are respectively electrically connected to a touch driving integrated circuit, and obtain touch signals from the touch driving integrated circuit to realize the function of embedded touch.

[0136] Beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present application: The embodiments of the present application provide a display panel, which includes a substrate, a flat layer, a first electrode layer, a light-emitting layer, a cathode and a touch sub-electrode. A touch undercut opening is arranged at the periphery of the light-emitting area, and the touch undercut opening is recessed in the flat layer. The cathode is arranged outside the touch undercut opening, and the touch sub-electrode is arranged inside the touch undercut opening and is separated from the cathode at the edge of the touch undercut opening. The touch sub-electrode and the cathode are isolated from each other by the touch undercut opening, so as to reduce interference between the touch signal and the display signal.

[0137] In summary, although the present application is disclosed as above with preferred embodiments, the above preferred embodiments are not intended to limit the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application is based on the scope defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A display panel, characterized in that: The display panel includes a display area, wherein a plurality of light-emitting areas distributed in an array are arranged in the display area, and the display panel further includes: substrate; A flat layer disposed on the substrate; A first electrode layer is disposed on a side of the planar layer away from the substrate; a light-emitting layer, at least disposed on a side of the first electrode layer away from the substrate; and A plurality of cathodes and a plurality of touch sub-electrodes, wherein the cathode is arranged on a side of the light-emitting layer away from the substrate; A touch undercut opening is disposed at the periphery of the light emitting area, the touch undercut opening is recessed in the flat layer, the cathode is disposed outside the touch undercut opening, the touch sub-electrode is disposed in the touch undercut opening, and the touch sub-electrode is separated from the cathode; The touch undercut opening and the touch sub-electrode form a fully surrounding structure for the light-emitting area, and the touch undercut opening separates the cathode in the light-emitting area from the cathode outside the light-emitting area. The cathode outside the light-emitting area is configured as a redundant electrode that does not receive electrical signals.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The display panel also includes a shielding structure, which is arranged on a side of the flat layer away from the substrate, the cathode is arranged on a side of the shielding structure away from the substrate, the touch undercut opening includes a first opening formed by the shielding structure and a second opening formed by the flat layer, the touch sub-electrode is arranged at the bottom of the second opening, the first opening is connected to the second opening, and the width of the first opening is smaller than the width of the second opening.

3. The display panel according to claim 2, wherein: The display panel further comprises a cathode bonding electrode, wherein the cathode bonding electrode is arranged on a side of the first electrode layer close to the substrate; A cathode undercut opening is provided at the edge of the light emitting area, the cathode undercut opening is recessed into the flat layer and exposes the cathode lap electrode, and the cathode in the light emitting area extends into the cathode undercut opening and contacts the cathode lap electrode.

4. The display panel according to claim 3, wherein: The cathode undercut opening comprises a third opening, the third opening is arranged on the flat layer and exposes the cathode lap electrode, and the shielding structure partially covers the third opening; The cathode is continuously arranged at a portion of the third opening close to the light emitting area and the light emitting area, and is in contact with the cathode lap electrode at the bottom of the third opening.

5. The display panel according to claim 4, wherein: The flat layer comprises a first flat layer and a second flat layer, wherein the second flat layer is arranged on a side of the first flat layer away from the substrate; Wherein, the cathode bonding electrode is arranged between the first flat layer and the second flat layer.

6. The display panel according to claim 5, wherein: The display panel further comprises a first source-drain electrode layer and a second source-drain electrode layer disposed on the substrate, wherein the second source-drain electrode layer is disposed on a side of the first source-drain electrode layer away from the substrate; The cathode lap electrode is arranged in the same layer as the second source-drain electrode layer, and is made of the same material as the second source-drain electrode layer.

7. The display panel according to claim 6, wherein: The display panel further includes a touch bonding electrode, wherein the touch bonding electrode is disposed at the bottom of the second opening, and the second opening exposes at least a portion of the touch bonding electrode; The touch sub-electrode is arranged on a side of the touch bonding electrode away from the substrate, and is in contact with the touch bonding electrode.

8. The display panel according to claim 7, wherein: The shielding structure is disposed on a side of the second flat layer away from the first flat layer, and the second opening at least penetrates the second flat layer.

9. The display panel according to claim 8, wherein: The shielding structure is disposed in the same layer as the first electrode layer and is made of the same material as the first electrode layer.

10. The display panel according to claim 8, wherein: The touch-control bonding electrode is disposed in the same layer as the second source-drain electrode layer and is made of the same material as the second source-drain electrode layer.

11. The display panel according to claim 8, wherein: The touch-control bonding electrode is disposed in the same layer as the first source-drain electrode layer and is made of the same material as the first source-drain electrode layer. The second opening penetrates the second planar layer and the first planar layer.

12. The display panel according to claim 7, wherein: The shielding structure is disposed in the same layer as the second source-drain electrode layer and is made of the same material as the second source-drain electrode layer.

13. The display panel according to claim 12, wherein: The touch-control bonding electrode is disposed in the same layer as the first source-drain electrode layer and is made of the same material as the first source-drain electrode layer. The second opening penetrates the first planar layer.

14. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: A plurality of pixel units are arranged in the display area, and each of the pixel units includes at least two light-emitting areas; Wherein, the touch sub-electrodes corresponding to adjacent light-emitting areas in the same pixel unit are electrically connected; The touch sub-electrodes corresponding to the pixel units distributed in a matrix are electrically connected to form a touch electrode.

15. The display panel according to claim 14, wherein: A first connecting portion is provided between adjacent light-emitting areas in the same pixel unit, and the first connecting portion is electrically connected to the touch sub-electrode; Wherein, the first connecting portion is arranged on a side of the touch sub-electrode close to the substrate.

16. The display panel according to claim 15, wherein: A second connecting portion is provided between adjacent pixel units corresponding to the same touch control electrode, and the second connecting portion is electrically connected to the touch control sub-electrode; Wherein, the second connecting portion is arranged on a side of the touch sub-electrode close to the substrate.

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