Display panel, preparation method thereof, display module and display device

Abstract

The application provides a display panel, a preparation method thereof, a display module and a display device. The display panel comprises a substrate, a plurality of metal isolation units, an insulating unit and an electrode layer. The plurality of metal isolation units are located in an isolation area and are sequentially arranged around an opening area, and are arranged on one side of the substrate. The insulating unit fills a gap between two adjacent metal isolation units, and covers surfaces of the two adjacent metal isolation units away from the one side of the substrate. The electrode layer comprises a first part located on the surface of the insulating unit away from the substrate, a second part and a third part located on opposite sides of the insulating unit. Any two of the first part, the second part and the third part are not in contact. The application breaks the electrical connection between the two adjacent metal isolation units filled with the insulating unit by using the insulating unit, thereby reducing the risk of electrostatic discharge or metal electrochemical corrosion of the display panel.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of display, in particular to a display panel, a preparation method thereof, a display module and a display device. BACKGROUND

[0002] The display panel is usually provided with an opening area and a display area. The opening area is used for mounting functional components such as a camera, a mobile phone receiver, a face recognition sensor or a light sensor. In addition, since water and oxygen and other substances are extremely easy to invade the display area from the opening area, it is necessary to set an isolation area between the display area and the opening area to block the invasion of water and oxygen and other substances.

[0003] In order to make the isolation area achieve a better effect of preventing the invasion of water and oxygen and other substances, a plurality of isolation units are usually arranged in the isolation area along the transverse direction of the display panel (i.e. from the opening area to the display area), thereby prolonging the invasion path of water and oxygen and other substances.

[0004] However, due to factors such as structural design or material of the plurality of isolation units, the current display panel has defects such as easy occurrence of electrostatic discharge or metal electrochemical corrosion, thereby affecting the service life of the display panel. SUMMARY

[0005] Therefore, the present application provides a display panel, a preparation method thereof, a display module and a display device. By filling an insulating unit in the gap between two adjacent metal isolation units, the electrical connection between the two adjacent metal isolation units filled with the insulating unit is disconnected by the insulating unit, thereby reducing the risk of electrostatic discharge or metal electrochemical corrosion of the display panel, and improving the packaging reliability and service life of the display panel.

[0006] The first aspect of the present application provides a display panel. The display panel includes a display area, an opening area and an isolation area between the display area and the opening area. The display panel includes a substrate, a plurality of metal isolation units, an insulating unit and an electrode layer. The plurality of metal isolation units are located in the isolation area and are arranged around the opening area in sequence, and are arranged on one side of the substrate. The insulating unit fills the gap between two adjacent metal isolation units, and covers the surfaces of the two adjacent metal isolation units away from the substrate. The electrode layer includes a first part on the surface of the insulating unit away from the substrate, a second part and a third part on the opposite sides of the insulating unit. Any two of the first part, the second part and the third part are not in contact.

[0007] In the above scheme, by filling the insulating units in the gap between the two adjacent metal isolation units, the electrical connection between the two adjacent metal isolation units filled with the insulating units is disconnected by the insulating units, so as to avoid the at least one metal isolation unit being electrified, reduce the risk of electrostatic discharge or metal electrochemical corrosion of the display panel, and improve the packaging reliability and service life of the display panel.

[0008] In one specific implementation of the first aspect of the present application, the display panel further comprises an encapsulation isolation unit. The encapsulation isolation unit is arranged on one side of the substrate and located in the isolation region. The two adjacent metal isolation units filled with the insulating units are located on one side of the encapsulation isolation unit close to the aperture region; and / or, the two adjacent metal isolation units filled with the insulating units are located on one side of the encapsulation isolation unit close to the display region.

[0009] In one specific implementation of the first aspect of the present application, one of the two adjacent metal isolation units filled with the insulating units is adjacent to the encapsulation isolation unit.

[0010] In one specific implementation of the first aspect of the present application, the insulating unit comprises a first insulating part and a second insulating part. The first insulating part is located between the substrate and the second insulating part. Further, the second insulating part is composed of a common layer.

[0011] In one specific implementation of the first aspect of the present application, the first distance between the surface of the first insulating part away from the substrate side and the surface of the first insulating part facing the substrate side is not less than the second distance between the surface of the metal isolation unit adjacent to the first insulating part away from the substrate side and the surface of the metal isolation unit facing the substrate side; or, the second distance between the surface of the metal isolation unit adjacent to the first insulating part away from the substrate side and the surface of the metal isolation unit facing the substrate side is greater than the first distance between the surface of the first insulating part away from the substrate side and the surface of the first insulating part facing the substrate side by a preset value, and the preset value is less than or equal to the third distance between the surface of the second insulating part away from the substrate side and the surface of the second insulating part facing the substrate side.

[0012] In one specific implementation of the first aspect of the present application, the first insulating part is a planarization layer.

[0013] In one specific implementation of the first aspect of the present application, the metal isolation unit comprises a first metal layer, a second metal layer and a third metal layer which are sequentially stacked on one side of the substrate. Further, the materials of the first metal layer and the third metal layer both comprise titanium, and the material of the second metal layer comprises aluminum.

[0014] The second aspect of the present application provides a display module, which comprises the display panel in any one of the specific implementations of the first aspect.

[0015] A third aspect of this application provides a display device that includes the display module described in the second aspect.

[0016] This application provides a fourth aspect of a method for fabricating a display panel. The display panel includes a display area, an aperture area, and an isolation area located between the display area and the aperture area. The fabrication method includes: providing a substrate; forming a plurality of metal isolation units sequentially surrounding the aperture area on one side of the substrate; forming an insulating unit in the gap between two adjacent metal isolation units; and forming an electrode layer on one side of the substrate. The plurality of metal isolation units are located in the isolation area. The insulating unit covers the surface of two adjacent metal isolation units facing away from the substrate. The electrode layer includes a first portion located on the surface of the insulating unit facing away from the substrate, a second portion located on opposite sides of the insulating unit, and a third portion. Any two of the first, second, and third portions are not in contact with each other. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 The diagram shown is a planar structure of a display panel.

[0018] Figure 2 As shown Figure 1 The diagram shows a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the display panel, cut along AA' within region O.

[0019] Figure 3 The diagram shown is a schematic of another type of display panel's planar structure.

[0020] Figure 4 As shown Figure 3 The diagram shows a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the display panel, cut along BB' within region Q.

[0021] Figure 5 As shown Figure 3 Another enlarged cross-sectional view of the display panel shown, cut along BB' within region Q.

[0022] Figure 6 As shown Figure 3 The diagram shows another enlarged cross-sectional view of the display panel, cut along BB' within region Q.

[0023] Figure 7 As shown Figure 3 The diagram shows another enlarged cross-sectional view of the display panel, cut along BB' within region Q.

[0024] Figure 8 As shown Figure 3 The diagram shows another enlarged cross-sectional view of the display panel, cut along BB' within region Q.

[0025] Figure 9 As shown Figure 3 The diagram shows another enlarged cross-sectional view of the display panel, cut along BB' within region Q.

[0026] Figure 10 The diagram shown is a flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing a display panel according to an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0028] Display panels based on organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are becoming increasingly popular in display fields such as wearables, mobile phones, and tablets due to their thinness, flexibility, and the ability to drill holes within the display panel. However, the materials of the light-emitting layer in the display panel are quite sensitive to environments such as water and oxygen, requiring a good encapsulation structure to prevent water and oxygen intrusion that could cause material failure in the light-emitting layer.

[0029] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The display panel 100 includes a display area 1, an opening area 2, and an isolation area 3 located between the display area and the opening area. The display panel 100 includes a substrate 110, multiple metal isolation units 120, an insulating layer 130 (which can be a common layer extending from the display area 1 to the isolation area 3), and an electrode layer 140. The multiple metal isolation units 120 can be arranged in concentric rings around the opening area 2. To achieve better protection against the intrusion of substances such as water and oxygen in the isolation area 3, multiple metal isolation units 120 are typically arranged in the isolation area 3 along the transverse direction of the display panel 100 (i.e., from the opening area 2 to the display area 1, or the positive direction of the X-axis), thereby extending the path for the intrusion of substances such as water and oxygen.

[0030] In some embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the metal isolation unit 120 can be square or rectangular. Thus, the two opposite sides of the metal isolation unit 120 can be substantially perpendicular to the plane of the display panel. This allows the segment difference formed by the side of the metal isolation unit 120 and the surface of the metal isolation unit 120 facing away from the substrate 110 to be used to make the electrode layer 140 disconnected at the metal isolation unit 120 (that is, the portion of the electrode layer 140 on the side of the metal isolation unit 120 facing away from the substrate 110 is not in contact with the portion of the electrode layer 140 on the side of the metal isolation unit 120). It also allows the insulating layer 130 to be disconnected at the metal isolation unit 120 (that is, the portion of the insulating layer 130 on the side of the metal isolation unit 120 facing away from the substrate 110 is not in contact with the portion of the insulating layer 130 on the side of the metal isolation unit 120, i.e., they are discontinuous). In other embodiments, at least one of the two opposite sides of the metal isolation unit 120 may be provided with a groove K. The cross-sectional shape of the metal isolation unit 120 may be a regular or irregular shape such as an I-shape or a king-shaped shape. In this way, the design of the groove K can further ensure that the electrode layer 140 and the insulating layer 130 are disconnected at the metal isolation unit 120, thereby preventing microcracks caused by external environmental factors such as cutting on the inorganic encapsulation film layer on the side of the electrode layer 140 facing away from the substrate 110 from extending into the display area. The microcracks will be blocked by the metal isolation unit 120 and cannot continue to extend into the display area.

[0031] It should be noted that the display panel 100 may also include other areas such as the bonding area 4. The bonding area 4 can be used to bond flexible circuit boards, etc.

[0032] However, careful study revealed that although the electrode layer 140 is disconnected at the metal isolation unit 120, the electrode layer 140 located between two adjacent metal isolation units 120 is electrically connected to the metal isolation unit 120 (e.g., within region P) to form the same potential. Since the electrode layer 140 connects multiple metal isolation units 120 during the vapor deposition process and makes all metal isolation units charged (e.g., with a negative voltage) when the screen is in operation, electrostatic discharge is more easily induced in the opening area 2 under environmental conditions such as static electricity, high temperature, and high humidity during the operation of the display panel 100. Electrostatic discharge easily leads to microcracks or voids in the various film layers of the display panel 100, further deteriorating the adhesion of the various film layers and damaging the sealing of the display panel 100. Furthermore, the presence of microcracks or voids makes the metal isolation unit 120 susceptible to electrochemical corrosion by ions released from the environment or from the laminated materials, causing water and oxygen to invade the display area 1 of the display panel 100, resulting in the failure of the display panel 100's encapsulation.

[0033] To address at least one of the aforementioned problems, at least one embodiment of this application provides a display panel and its manufacturing method, a display module, and a display device. By filling the gap between two adjacent metal isolation units with insulating units, the electrical connection between the two adjacent metal isolation units with insulating units is broken, thereby reducing the risk of electrostatic discharge or metal electrochemical corrosion of the display panel and improving the packaging reliability and service life of the display panel.

[0034] The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, describes at least one embodiment of the display panel, its fabrication method, display module, and display device. Furthermore, in these drawings, a spatial Cartesian coordinate system is established with reference to the substrate of the display panel to aid in illustrating the positional relationships of the various structures within the display panel. In this spatial Cartesian coordinate system, the X and Y axes are parallel to the plane containing the display panel, and the Z axis is perpendicular to the plane containing the display panel. Additionally, in the embodiments of this application, "thickness" is defined with reference to the substrate. For example, for an object located on one side of the substrate, the difference between the vertical distance from the farthest end of the object to the substrate and the vertical distance from the closest end of the object to the substrate is the thickness of the object.

[0035] In at least one embodiment of the display panel 200 provided in this application, exemplarily, reference is made to Figures 3 to 9The display panel 200 includes a display area 1, an opening area 2, and an isolation area 3 located between the display area 1 and the opening area 2. The display panel 200 includes a substrate 210, a plurality of metal isolation units 220, insulating units 230, and an electrode layer 240. The plurality of metal isolation units 220 are located in the isolation area 3 and are sequentially arranged around the opening area 2, and are disposed on one side of the substrate 210. The insulating units 230 fill the gap between two adjacent metal isolation units 220 and cover the surface of the two adjacent metal isolation units 220 facing away from the substrate 210 (i.e., the thickness of the insulating unit 230 is greater than the thickness of any one of the two adjacent metal isolation units 220 to which the insulating unit 230 is filled). The electrode layer 240 includes a first portion 240a located on the surface of the insulating unit 230 facing away from the substrate 210, a second portion 240b located on opposite sides of the insulating unit 230, and a third portion 240c. Any two parts of the first part 240a, the second part 240b, and the third part 240c are not in contact, i.e., they are discontinuous. Thus, by filling the gap between two adjacent metal isolation units 220 with insulating units 230, there is no electrical connection between adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with insulating units 230. Consequently, the portion of the plurality of metal isolation units 220 located on the side of the insulating unit 230 near the opening region 2 (i.e., the metal isolation unit 220 located in region M) and the portion of the electrode layer 240 located on the side of the insulating unit 230 near the opening region 2 (i.e., the electrode layer 240 located in region M) are both uncharged. In addition, by setting the insulating unit 230 to cover the surface of the two adjacent metal isolation units 220 facing away from the substrate 210, the direct connection between the surface of the metal isolation unit 220 facing away from the substrate 210 and the first part 240a in the electrode layer 240 is avoided. This makes it so that there is no electrical connection between the two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with the insulating unit 230 and the first part 240a, thereby reducing the risk of electrostatic discharge or metal electrochemical corrosion of the display panel 200 and improving the packaging reliability and service life of the display panel 200.

[0036] It should be noted that the division of the display area 1, the opening area 2, and the isolation area 3 in the display panel 200 can be as follows: Figure 3 As shown, it can also be divided according to actual needs. Along the plane where the display panel 200 is located, the shape of the display panel 200 can be as follows: Figure 3 The rectangle shown has rounded corners, but it can also be an ellipse, circle, or other regular or irregular shape. The shape of the opening area 2 can be as follows: Figure 3The circle shown can also be an ellipse, rectangle, or other regular or irregular shape. The size and position of the opening area 2 and the isolation area 3 in the display panel 200 can be adjusted according to actual needs. The number of opening areas 2 and isolation areas 3 can be one or more. The display panel 200 may also include other areas such as a bonding area.

[0037] The metal isolation unit 220 can be in a ring shape, and multiple metal isolation units 220 can be arranged in concentric rings around the opening area 2. For example, in some embodiments, the opening area 2 is circular, so the orthographic projection of the metal isolation unit 220 onto the substrate 210 can be circular, the diameters of the multiple metal isolation units 220 can gradually increase, and the multiple metal isolation units 220 can be arranged in concentric rings around the opening area 2. It should be noted that the thickness of the multiple metal isolation units 220 can be the same or different.

[0038] The number of insulating units 230 can be one (reference). Figures 4 to 7 and Figure 9 It can also be two (see reference). Figure 8 (Even more.) The material of the insulating unit 230 can be any one or more of organic and inorganic insulating materials, as long as it can block the electrical connection between two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with the insulating unit 230. Based on this, the embodiments of this application do not specifically limit the material of the insulating unit 230.

[0039] The electrode layer 240 can be a transparent electrode. For example, the material of the transparent electrode can be a metal oxide such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or a transparent metal material such as a magnesium-silver alloy. In some embodiments, the electrode layer 240 can be a cathode.

[0040] The electrode layer 240 is interrupted at the integral structure formed by two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with insulating units 230 and the insulating units 230 due to the presence of a step difference or a groove K, so that any two parts of the first part 240a, the second part 240b, and the third part 240c are not in contact. Taking the metal isolation unit 220 as an example, in some embodiments, a groove K can be provided on the same side of the metal isolation unit 220 (e.g., the surface of the metal isolation unit 220 near the display area 1 or the surface of the metal isolation unit 220 away from the display area 1), or multiple stacked grooves K can be provided. The structures of the grooves K on opposite sides of the metal isolation unit 220 can be the same or different. The structure and position of the grooves K on different metal isolation units 220 can be the same or different. The shape of the groove K can be as follows: Figures 5 to 9The rectangle shown can also be a regular or irregular shape such as a triangle or a semicircle. In two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with insulating units 230, grooves K (see reference) can be provided on two opposite surfaces of the two metal isolation units 220. Figure 4 , Figures 6 to 9 Alternatively, the groove K may not be provided (see reference). Figure 5 If the two opposing surfaces of the two metal isolation units 220 are not provided with grooves K, on ​​the one hand, the manufacturing process of side-etching grooves K on the two metal isolation units 220 can be reduced, and on the other hand, the risk of the insulating unit 230 breaking due to the presence of grooves K can be reduced.

[0041] In the display panel 200 provided in at least one embodiment of this application, exemplarily, reference is made to Figures 5 to 9 The display panel 200 also includes an encapsulation isolation unit 250. The encapsulation isolation unit 250 is disposed on one side of the substrate 210 and located in the isolation region 3. Thus, by utilizing the encapsulation isolation unit 250, the overflow of materials such as planarization layers or organic filler layers within the display region 1 is effectively blocked, ensuring the planarity of films such as organic filler layers within the display region 1. Two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with insulating units 230 can be located at any position within the isolation region 3. The positional design of two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with insulating units 230 will be illustrated below with reference to several specific embodiments.

[0042] For example, in some embodiments, exemplarily, reference is made to Figures 5 to 9 Two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with insulating units 230 are located on the side of the encapsulation isolation unit 250 near the opening area 2. In this way, on the one hand, the two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with insulating units 230 on the side of the encapsulation isolation unit 250 near the opening area 2 are electrically disconnected, and the part of the electrode layer 240 located in region M is not charged, thereby reducing the risk of electrostatic discharge or metal electrochemical corrosion of the display panel 200. On the other hand, it also avoids setting at least two metal isolation units 220 on the side of the encapsulation isolation unit 250 near the display area 1 in order to set the insulating units 230, which is beneficial to the narrowing of the isolation area 3.

[0043] For example, in other embodiments, exemplarily, reference is made to... Figure 8Two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with insulating units 230 are located on the side of the encapsulation isolation unit 250 closer to the display area 1. In this way, the two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with insulating units 230 are electrically disconnected, so that the area M occupies a larger proportion of the isolation area 3, that is, there are more non-charged parts in the electrode layer 240 located in the isolation area 3 and more non-charged parts in the multiple metal isolation units 220, thereby reducing the risk of inducing electrostatic discharge and metal electrochemical corrosion, and improving the encapsulation reliability of the display panel 200.

[0044] Furthermore, in the display panel 200 provided in at least one embodiment of this application, exemplarily, reference is made to... Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 8 and Figure 9 One of the two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with insulating unit 230 is adjacent to the encapsulation isolation unit, meaning there are no other metal isolation units between the two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with insulating unit 230 and the encapsulation isolation unit. In this way, while ensuring a narrower isolation region 2, the proportion of region M in the isolation region 3 can be increased, resulting in a larger portion of the electrode layer 240 and the multiple metal isolation units 220 located within the isolation region 3 and not carrying any charge. If two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with insulating units 230 are located on the side of the encapsulation isolation unit 250 near the opening area 2, then, without setting at least two metal isolation units 220 on the side of the encapsulation isolation unit 250 near the display area 1 to set the insulating units 230, the proportion of region M in the isolation area 3 is maximized. This means that the portion of the electrode layer 240 and the multiple metal isolation units 220 located in the isolation area 3 and not charged is the largest. Thus, without widening the isolation area 3, the risk of inducing electrostatic discharge and metal electrochemical corrosion is minimized, and the encapsulation reliability of the display panel 200 is the best.

[0045] It should be noted that the encapsulation isolation unit 250 can be composed of a buffer layer or a gate insulating layer in the display panel 200, or it can be composed of one or more barrier materials. This application embodiment does not specifically limit the structural composition of the encapsulation isolation unit 250. The encapsulation isolation unit 250 can be formed by etching on the substrate 210 or by directly filling it into the isolation region 3, as long as the encapsulation isolation unit 250 can be formed. This application embodiment does not specifically limit the formation process of the encapsulation isolation unit 250. The metal isolation unit 220 located on the side of the encapsulation isolation unit 250 near the opening region 2 can have the same or different structure as the metal isolation unit 220 located on the side of the encapsulation isolation unit 250 near the display region 1.

[0046] In some embodiments, exemplarily, referenceFigure 6 The display panel 200 may further include an inorganic encapsulation film layer 260 and an organic filler layer 270. Further, an inorganic encapsulation film layer 260 may be stacked on the side of the organic filler layer 270 facing away from the substrate 210. The material of the inorganic encapsulation film layer 260 may be silicon nitride (SiN). x The inorganic encapsulation film 260 can be formed by chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, atomic force deposition, or other methods.

[0047] For the metal isolation unit 220 located on the side of the encapsulation isolation unit 250 near the opening area 2, the metal isolation unit 220 can be used to block the propagation of microcracks caused by external environmental factors such as cutting in the inorganic encapsulation film layer 260 to the display area 1. For the metal isolation unit 220 located on the side of the encapsulation isolation unit 250 near the display area 1, the metal isolation unit 220 can be used to slow down the outward expansion speed of the organic filler layer 270.

[0048] Insulating unit 230 can be a structure consisting of a single insulating layer (see reference). Figure 4 It can be formed in one piece from one or more insulating materials, or it can be a structure consisting of multiple layers of stacked insulating layers (see reference). Figures 5 to 9 As long as it can effectively prevent the electrical connection between two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with insulating units 230, the structural design of the insulating unit 230 is not specifically limited in this application embodiment. Below, several specific embodiments are used to illustrate the structural design corresponding to a structure where the insulating unit 230 is a multi-layered insulating structure.

[0049] In the display panel 200 provided in at least one embodiment of this application, exemplarily, reference is made to Figures 5 to 9 The insulating unit 230 includes a first insulating portion 231 and a second insulating portion 232. The first insulating portion 231 is located between the substrate 210 and the second insulating portion 232. In this way, the first insulating portion 231 or the second insulating portion 232 can be fabricated simultaneously during the fabrication of various film layers in the display panel 200, such as the material of the planarization layer or the common layer of the light-emitting functional layer, which is beneficial to fabricating the insulating unit 230 without adding additional processes.

[0050] Furthermore, in the display panel 200 provided in at least one embodiment of this application, exemplarily, reference is made to... Figure 6 The second insulating portion 232 is composed of a common layer. Therefore, by using a common layer to form the second insulating portion 232, it is possible to form the second insulating portion 232 simultaneously with the preparation of the common layer, reducing the number of preparation steps.

[0051] It should be noted that the common layer can be a film layer extending from the display area 1 to the isolation area 3 in the display panel 200. For example, the display panel 200 also includes a light-emitting functional layer 280. The light-emitting functional layer 280 is located between the substrate 210 and the electrode layer 240. The light-emitting functional layer 280 includes a common layer. In some embodiments, the light-emitting functional layer 280 includes a light-emitting layer, and at least one of a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an electron blocking layer, a hole blocking layer, an electron transport layer, and an electron injection layer. The common layer can be composed of at least one of a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an electron blocking layer, a hole blocking layer, an electron transport layer, and an electron injection layer. Thus, by using at least one of the hole injection layer, hole transport layer, electron blocking layer, hole blocking layer, electron transport layer and electron injection layer to form a common layer, and using the common layer to form a second insulating portion 232, the electrical connection between the surface of the metal isolation unit 220 on the side opposite to the substrate 210 and the first portion 240a in the electrode layer 240 is isolated by the second insulating portion 232.

[0052] The thickness of the first insulating portion 231 and the thickness of the second insulating portion 232 can be designed according to actual needs. For example, when the thickness of the second insulating portion 232 is fixed, the thickness of the first insulating portion 231 can be designed according to the thickness of the second insulating portion 232, as long as the insulating unit 230 composed of the first insulating portion 231 and the second insulating portion 232 can block the electrical connection between two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with the insulating unit 230, and can block the electrical connection between the two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with the insulating unit 230 and the first portion 240a. Based on this, the embodiments of this application do not specifically limit the thickness of the first insulating portion 231 and the thickness of the second insulating portion 232. Below, several specific embodiments are used to illustrate the design of the thickness of the first insulating portion 231 and the thickness of the second insulating portion 232.

[0053] For example, in some embodiments, exemplarily, reference is made to Figures 5 to 8 The first distance D1 (i.e., the thickness of the first insulating portion 231) between the surface of the first insulating portion 231 facing away from the substrate 210 and the surface of the first insulating portion 231 facing the substrate 210 is not less than the second distance (i.e., the thickness of the metal isolation unit 220) between the surface of the metal isolation unit 220 adjacent to the first insulating portion 231 facing away from the substrate 210 and the surface of the metal isolation unit 220 facing the substrate 210. In this way, the thickness of the first insulating portion 231 is not less than the thickness of the metal isolation unit 220 adjacent to the first insulating portion 231, and the first insulating portion 231 ensures that there is no electrical connection between the two opposing surfaces of two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with insulating units 230.

[0054] For example, in other embodiments, exemplarily, reference is made to... Figure 9 The second distance D2 between the surface of the metal insulating unit 220 adjacent to the first insulating portion 231 on the side away from the substrate 210 and the surface of the metal insulating unit 220 facing the substrate 210 is greater than a preset value than the first distance D1 between the surface of the first insulating portion 231 on the side away from the substrate 210 and the surface of the first insulating portion 231 facing the substrate 210. The preset value is less than or equal to the third distance D3 (i.e., the thickness of the second insulating portion 232) between the surface of the second insulating portion 232 on the side away from the substrate 210 and the surface of the second insulating portion 232 facing the substrate 210. Thus, when the thickness of the first insulating portion 231 is less than the thickness of the metal isolation unit 220 adjacent to the first insulating portion 231, by setting the difference between the thickness of the first insulating portion 231 and the thickness of the adjacent metal isolation unit 220 to be less than or equal to the thickness of the second insulating portion 232, the first insulating portion 231 and the second insulating portion 232 are used simultaneously to ensure that there is no electrical connection between the two opposing surfaces of the two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with insulating unit 230. This avoids the risk that a portion of the first portion 240a may be located between the two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with insulating unit 230 due to the small thickness of the first insulating portion 231, thereby reducing the risk of electrical connection between a portion of the first portion 240a and the two adjacent metal isolation units 220 filled with insulating unit 230.

[0055] It should be noted that the surface of the first insulating portion 231 facing away from the substrate 210 can be a surface parallel to the surface of the substrate 210 facing the first insulating portion 231 (see reference). Figure 5 , Figures 7 to 9 It can also be a curved surface (see reference). Figure 6 It can also be other regular or irregular surfaces.

[0056] The substrate 210 can be any one or a combination of two of the following: a low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) substrate and an indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) substrate. The substrate 210 may contain a driving circuit for driving each sub-pixel to emit light of the corresponding color.

[0057] For example, in the display panel 200 provided in at least one embodiment of this application, the first insulating portion 231 is a planarization layer. In this way, the first insulating portion 231 can be formed using the material of the planarization layer without increasing the material requirements. It is also beneficial that the first insulating portion 231 and the planarization layer in the display area are formed using the same process and / or the same material, so that adding the first insulating portion 231 does not require new process steps or masks.

[0058] In some embodiments, exemplarily, reference Figure 7 The substrate 210 includes a substrate 211 and a planarization layer 212 located on one side of the substrate 211. It should be noted that the substrate 210 may also include one or more of the following: a source / drain metal layer 213, a pixel electrode layer 214, a pixel definition layer 215, a barrier layer, a buffer layer, a gate insulating layer, a capacitor insulating layer, a gate, a source, a drain, and an interlayer dielectric layer. For example, the first insulating portion 231 can be formed using the material of the planarization layer 212 after etching the source / drain metal layer 213 (which is in the same layer as the metal isolation unit 220), through processes such as filling and exposure development. This allows the first insulating portion 231 to be completed during the fabrication of the substrate 210, without adding new process steps or masks compared to existing processes. Furthermore, a common layer can be fabricated after the metal isolation unit 220 and the source / drain metal layer 213 in the same layer are prepared, and the second insulating portion 232 can be formed using this common layer. This allows the second insulating portion 232 to also be formed during the fabrication of the substrate 210. Furthermore, an electrode layer 240 can be prepared after the common layer is prepared. The electrode layer 240 can extend from the display area 1 to the isolation area 3 and cover the surface of the common layer on the side away from the substrate 210.

[0059] The substrate 211 can be made of one or more inorganic materials such as sapphire glass, quartz glass, stainless steel or aluminum, or one or more organic materials such as polyimide, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylphenol, polyethersulfone, polyamide and polyethylene terephthalate, or a composite material of organic and inorganic materials.

[0060] The metal isolation unit 220 can be a single film layer structure or a structure of multiple film layers stacked. The embodiments of this application do not specifically limit the structure of the metal isolation unit 220.

[0061] For example, in the display panel 200 provided in at least one embodiment of this application, exemplarily, reference is made to... Figure 7The metal isolation unit 220 includes a first metal layer 220a, a second metal layer 220b, and a third metal layer 220c sequentially stacked on one side of the substrate 210. Further, in some embodiments, the first metal layer 220a and the third metal layer 220c are both made of titanium (Ti), and the second metal layer 220b is made of aluminum (Al). For example, the metal isolation unit 220 can be a "Ti+Al+Ti" film structure. Thus, the metal isolation unit 220 can be on the same layer and made of the same material as the source and drain of the thin film transistor (TFT) in the substrate 210 (e.g., source / drain metal layer 213). Since the source and drain of the TFT also include a "Ti+Al+Ti" three-layer structure, the source, drain, and metal isolation unit 220 of the TFT can be formed simultaneously through a single patterning process, without the need to add other film layers, thus simplifying the manufacturing process.

[0062] At least one embodiment of this application also provides a display module, which includes any of the above embodiments, such as those based on... Figures 3 to 9 The display panel 200 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0063] It should be noted that, depending on actual needs, the display module may also include a polarizer, adhesive, and cover plate stacked on the display side of the display panel 200.

[0064] Since the display module of this application embodiment includes the above-mentioned Figures 3 to 9 All the technical solutions of the embodiments shown can therefore achieve at least all the above-mentioned technical effects, and will not be repeated here. At least one embodiment of this application also provides a display device, which includes the above-described display module.

[0065] It should be understood that the display device can be a variety of electronic display products, specifically including but not limited to at least one of mobile phones, tablet computers, e-book readers, media players, digital cameras, laptops, in-vehicle computers, desktop computers, set-top boxes, smart TVs, and wearable devices. Furthermore, depending on actual needs, the display device may also include one or more structures such as a touch buffer layer, a touch sensor, a touch protective layer, and an anti-reflective layer disposed on one side of the display panel.

[0066] Since the display device in this application embodiment includes the above-mentioned... Figures 3 to 9 All the technical solutions in the embodiments shown can achieve at least all the above-mentioned technical effects, and will not be repeated here.

[0067] At least one embodiment of this application also provides a method for manufacturing a display panel. The display panel includes a display area, an aperture area, and an isolation area located between the display area and the aperture area. (Reference) Figure 10 The preparation method includes the following steps.

[0068] S110: Provides a substrate.

[0069] S120: Multiple metal isolation units are formed sequentially around the opening area on one side of the substrate. The multiple metal isolation units are located in the isolation area.

[0070] S130: An insulating unit is formed in the gap between two adjacent metal insulating units. The insulating unit covers the surface of the two adjacent metal insulating units facing away from the substrate.

[0071] S140: An electrode layer is formed on one side of the substrate. The electrode layer includes a first portion located on the surface of the insulating unit opposite to the substrate, a second portion located on opposite sides of the insulating unit, and a third portion. No two of the first, second, and third portions are in contact with each other.

[0072] It should be noted that the display panel can be the display panel in any specific embodiment of all the above embodiments, or it can be a display panel that is equivalent to or significantly modified from any display panel in all the above embodiments.

[0073] Because the preparation method is as described above Figures 3 to 9 The manufacturing method of the display panel corresponding to the embodiment shown includes the above-described steps. Figures 3 to 9 All the technical solutions of the embodiments shown are described above. Therefore, the specific implementation of the preparation method can be referred to the description in the above-mentioned display panel related embodiments, and at least all the above-mentioned technical effects can be achieved. They will not be repeated here.

[0074] It should be noted that the combination of the technical features in this application is not limited to the combination methods described in the claims of this application or the combination methods described in the specific embodiments. All technical features described in this application can be freely combined or combined in any way, unless they contradict each other.

[0075] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications or equivalent substitutions made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A display panel, comprising a display area, an opening area, and an isolation area located between the display area and the opening area, characterized in that, The display panel includes: A substrate; a plurality of metal isolation units located in the isolation area and arranged sequentially around the opening area, and disposed on one side of the substrate; an insulating unit that fills the gap between two adjacent metal isolation units and covers the surface of the two adjacent metal isolation units facing away from the substrate, i.e., the thickness of the insulating unit is greater than the thickness of any one of the two adjacent metal isolation units that are filled with the insulating unit; The electrode layer includes a first portion located on the surface of the insulating unit facing away from the substrate, a second portion and a third portion located on opposite sides of the insulating unit, wherein any two of the first portion, the second portion and the third portion are not in contact with each other.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: An encapsulation isolation unit is disposed on one side of the substrate and located in the isolation region. Wherein, two adjacent metal isolation units filled with the insulating unit are located on the side of the encapsulation isolation unit closer to the opening area; and / or The two adjacent metal isolation units filled with the insulating unit are located on the side of the encapsulation isolation unit closer to the display area.

3. The display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that, One of the two adjacent metal isolation units filled with the insulating unit is adjacent to the encapsulation isolation unit.

4. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The insulating unit includes a first insulating portion and a second insulating portion, wherein the first insulating portion is located between the substrate and the second insulating portion.

5. The display panel according to claim 4, characterized in that, The second insulating part is composed of a common layer.

6. The display panel according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first distance between the surface of the first insulating portion facing away from the substrate and the surface of the first insulating portion facing the substrate is not less than the second distance between the surface of the metal isolation unit adjacent to the first insulating portion facing away from the substrate and the surface of the metal isolation unit facing the substrate; or The second distance between the surface of the metal insulating unit adjacent to the first insulating portion that is away from the substrate and the surface of the metal insulating unit that is facing the substrate is greater than a preset value than the first distance between the surface of the first insulating portion that is away from the substrate and the surface of the first insulating portion that is facing the substrate. The preset value is less than or equal to a third distance between the surface of the second insulating portion that is away from the substrate and the surface of the second insulating portion that is facing the substrate.

7. The display panel according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first insulating part is a planarization layer.

8. The display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The metal isolation unit includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and a third metal layer stacked sequentially on one side of the substrate.

9. The display panel according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first metal layer and the third metal layer are both made of titanium, and the second metal layer is made of aluminum.

10. A display module, characterized in that, Includes the display panel as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A display device, characterized in that, Includes the display module as described in claim 10.

12. A method for manufacturing a display panel, the display panel comprising a display area, an aperture area, and an isolation area located between the display area and the aperture area, characterized in that, include: Provide a base; A plurality of metal isolation units are formed sequentially around the opening area on one side of the substrate, wherein the plurality of metal isolation units are located in the isolation area; An insulating unit is formed in the gap between two adjacent metal isolation units, wherein the insulating unit covers the surface of the two adjacent metal isolation units facing away from the substrate, that is, the thickness of the insulating unit is greater than the thickness of any one of the two adjacent metal isolation units that are filled with the insulating unit; An electrode layer is formed on one side of the substrate, wherein the electrode layer includes a first portion located on the surface of the insulating unit opposite to the substrate, a second portion and a third portion located on opposite sides of the insulating unit, and any two of the first portion, the second portion and the third portion are not in contact with each other.

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