A display panel and display device

Abstract

The application discloses a display panel and a display device, the display panel comprising: a planar display area and a curved display area; the display panel further comprising: a display function layer, comprising a substrate and a plurality of light emitting elements on one side of the substrate; an optical function layer on the side of the light emitting elements away from the substrate; at least part of the optical function layer is located in the planar display area; the light emitting brightness of the display panel per unit area at a 0-degree viewing angle in the planar display area is a first brightness; the light emitting brightness of the display panel per unit area at a 0-degree viewing angle in the curved display area is a second brightness; wherein the 0-degree viewing angle is a viewing angle perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel; at the same height distance from the display surface of the display panel, the first brightness of at least part of the display panel is greater than the second brightness. By using the above technical scheme, the problem of dark color and color deviation in the curved display area can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have the characteristics of self-illumination, fast response speed, and wide viewing angle, and have been widely used in display fields such as mobile phones, tablets, and televisions.

[0003] With the development of product differentiation, curved screen designs have been adopted in many products. However, due to the curved edge design, the projection area of ​​edge pixels is smaller than that of central pixels, resulting in the edge brightness and color accuracy of OLED display panels being inferior to those of the central area, leading to poor visual experience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a display panel and a display device to solve the problems of insufficient brightness and color deviation on the edge curved surface of the display panel.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a display panel is provided, comprising: a flat display area and a curved display area;

[0006] The display panel also includes:

[0007] The display functional layer includes a substrate and a plurality of light-emitting elements located on one side of the substrate;

[0008] An optical functional layer is located on the side of the light-emitting element opposite to the substrate; at least a portion of the optical functional layer is located in the planar display area;

[0009] The luminance at a 0° viewing angle per unit area of ​​the display panel located in the planar display area is the first luminance; the luminance at a 0° viewing angle per unit area of ​​the display panel located in the curved display area is the second luminance; wherein, the 0° viewing angle is the viewing angle perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel;

[0010] At the same height distance from the display surface of the display panel, at least a portion of the first brightness of the display panel is greater than the second brightness.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, a display device is provided, comprising: the above-described display panel.

[0012] The technical solution of this invention, by setting an optical functional layer on the side of the light-emitting element away from the substrate, can change the path of the emitted light from the light-emitting element, improve the light extraction efficiency of the display panel, and facilitate low power consumption of the display panel; at least part of the optical functional layer is located in the planar display area, which can increase the luminous brightness of the display panel in the planar display area at a 0° viewing angle and decrease the luminous brightness of the display panel in the planar display area at a large viewing angle, thereby increasing the luminous brightness per unit area of ​​the display panel in the planar display area on the light-emitting side and reducing optical crosstalk between adjacent sub-pixels; the second brightness is less than the first brightness, which can increase the luminous brightness of the display panel in the curved display area at a large viewing angle. This increases the brightness of the curved display panel, allowing more light to reach its emitting side and improving the overall brightness per unit area. Furthermore, at the same height from the display surface, the brightness of the curved display panel can vary across its unit area to even out the brightness of different color sub-pixels across the wide viewing angle. This ensures that the luminous brightness of each color sub-pixel on the emitting side of the curved display panel is consistent, mitigating color shift caused by the varying brightness decay of different color light-emitting elements as the viewing angle increases.

[0013] It should be understood that the description in this section is not intended to identify key or essential features of the embodiments of the present invention, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the invention. Other features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following description. Attached Figure Description

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

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel in the prior art;

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 5This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

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

[0023] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of a light path in an optical functional layer provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 14 This is another schematic diagram of a light path in the optical functional layer provided in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 16 This is another schematic diagram of a light path in the optical functional layer provided in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 18 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 19 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 20This is another schematic diagram of a light path in the optical functional layer provided in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 21 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 22 This is another schematic diagram of a light path in the optical functional layer provided in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 23 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 24 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 25 This is another schematic diagram of a light path in the optical functional layer provided in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 26 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 27 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 28 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 29 This is another schematic diagram of a light path in the optical functional layer provided in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 30 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 31 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 32 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 33 This is another schematic diagram of a light path in the optical functional layer provided in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 34 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display device provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0049] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0050] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this invention are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of the invention described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0051] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel in the prior art. (Reference) Figure 1 The display panel 01 includes a flat display area 001 and a curved display area 002. The display panel 01 also includes a substrate 02, a circuit layer 03, a light-emitting layer 04, a thin-film encapsulation layer 06, a touch layer 07, and an optical functional layer 08, which are stacked sequentially. The light-emitting layer 04 includes multiple light-emitting elements 05. The light emitted from the light-emitting elements 05 passes through the thin-film encapsulation layer 06 and the touch layer 07. Due to the difference in refractive index of the different film layers and the reflection of the film layers, the light emission efficiency of the light-emitting elements 05 is relatively low, which affects the power consumption and lifespan of the display panel 01. Therefore, in the prior art, an optical functional layer 08 is provided on the side of the touch layer 07 opposite to the light-emitting layer 04 to change the path of the light, improve the light emission efficiency of the light-emitting elements 05, and reduce the power consumption of the display panel.

[0052] In the prior art, the optical functional layer 08 typically utilizes film structures with different refractive indices to increase the energy of light rays at narrow viewing angles and decrease the energy of light rays at wide viewing angles, thereby improving the light extraction efficiency of the light-emitting element 05. However, this leads to a reduction in the amount of light emitted from the display panel 01 located in the curved display area 002 towards the light-emitting side, resulting in a darkening of the display panel 01 located in the curved display area 002. Furthermore, the brightness of light-emitting elements 05 of different colors decreases differently as the viewing angle increases, resulting in different emitted light energy from light-emitting elements 05 of different colors towards the light-emitting side, causing a color shift in the display panel 01 located in the curved display area 002.

[0053] To address the aforementioned technical problems, embodiments of the present invention provide a display panel, comprising: a planar display area and a curved display area; the display panel further comprises: a display functional layer, including a substrate and a plurality of light-emitting elements located on one side of the substrate; an optical functional layer located on the side of the light-emitting elements facing away from the substrate; at least a portion of the optical functional layer is located in the planar display area; the luminous intensity per unit area of ​​the display panel in the planar display area at a 0° viewing angle is a first luminous intensity; the luminous intensity per unit area of ​​the display panel in the curved display area at a 0° viewing angle is a second luminous intensity; wherein, the 0° viewing angle is a viewing angle perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel; at the same height distance from the display surface of the display panel, the first luminous intensity of at least a portion of the display panel is greater than the second luminous intensity.

[0054] By employing the above technical solution, by setting an optical functional layer on the side of the light-emitting element away from the substrate, the path of the emitted light from the light-emitting element can be changed, thereby improving the light extraction efficiency of the display panel and contributing to low power consumption. Since at least a portion of the optical functional layer is located in the planar display area, it can increase the luminous brightness of the display panel in the planar display area at a 0° viewing angle and decrease the luminous brightness of the display panel in the planar display area at a large viewing angle. This can increase the luminous brightness per unit area of ​​the display panel on the light-emitting side in the planar display area and reduce optical crosstalk between adjacent sub-pixels. The second brightness is less than the first brightness, which can increase the luminous brightness of the display panel in the curved display area at a large viewing angle. This increases the brightness of the curved display panel, allowing more light to reach its emitting side and improving the overall brightness per unit area. Furthermore, at the same height from the display surface, the brightness of the curved display panel can vary across its unit area to even out the brightness of different color sub-pixels across the wide viewing angle. This ensures that the luminous brightness of each color sub-pixel on the emitting side of the curved display panel is consistent, mitigating color shift caused by the varying brightness decay of different color light-emitting elements as the viewing angle increases.

[0055] The above is the core idea of ​​this invention. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention. The technical solutions in the embodiments of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0056] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 2The display panel 10 includes a flat display area 11 and a curved display area 12; the display panel 10 also includes a display functional layer 20 and an optical functional layer 40; the display functional layer 20 includes a substrate 21 and a plurality of light-emitting elements 25 located on one side of the substrate 21; the optical functional layer 40 is located on the side of the light-emitting elements 25 facing away from the substrate 21; at least a portion of the optical functional layer 40 is located in the flat display area 11. The luminous intensity per unit area of ​​the display panel 10 at a 0° viewing angle in the flat display area 11 is a first brightness; the luminous intensity per unit area of ​​the display panel 10 at a 0° viewing angle in the curved display area 12 is a second brightness; wherein, the 0° viewing angle is the viewing angle perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10; at the same height distance from the display surface of the display panel 10, the first brightness of at least a portion of the display panel 10 is greater than the second brightness.

[0057] The unit area can be, for example, a circle with a radius of 0.1 mm, a square with a side length of 0.1 mm, or other sizes of circles, polygons, etc. The display panel 10 per unit area includes light-emitting elements 25 of different colors. The display surface is the outer surface of the display panel 10 facing away from the substrate 21. The display surface is generally a smooth surface, including flat and curved surfaces. The display surface side refers to the side of the display surface of the display panel 10 facing away from the substrate 21. The display surface side includes different orientations, and the orientation of the display surface side changes with the curvature of the display surface. The light-emitting side refers to the vertical direction of the display surface located in the planar display area 11. The first brightness and the second brightness can be the brightness per unit area detected when the vertical distance between the light receiving surface of the brightness detection instrument and the display surface of the display panel 10 is K mm, where K is equal to a value such as 2, 4, or 6.

[0058] For example, the display panel 10 includes multiple sub-pixels of different colors. Each sub-pixel includes a light-emitting element 25 and a pixel driving circuit 26. The display functional layer 20 may include a circuit layer 22 and a light-emitting layer 23. The circuit layer 22 is located between the light-emitting layer 23 and the substrate 21. The light-emitting layer 23 includes multiple light-emitting elements 25 and multiple pixel driving circuits 26. The light-emitting elements 25 are electrically connected to the pixel driving circuits 26, and the pixel driving circuits 26 provide pixel driving signals to the light-emitting elements 25. The display functional layer 20 also includes a thin-film encapsulation layer 24 located on the side of the light-emitting layer 23 facing away from the substrate 21. The thin-film encapsulation layer 24 is used to protect the multiple light-emitting elements 25 of the light-emitting layer 23 from oxidation and corrosion, thereby extending the lifespan of the light-emitting elements 25. The display panel 10 also includes a touch layer 30 located between the optical functional layer 40 and the display functional layer 20. The touch layer 30 enables the display panel 10 to perform touch functions.

[0059] Based on the above embodiments, the display surfaces of the display panel 10 located in the flat display area 11 and the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 are different, resulting in light from the display panel 10 in the flat display area 11 being directed towards the light-emitting side of the display panel 10 at a 0° viewing angle, while light from the display panel 10 in the curved display area 12 is directed towards the light-emitting side of the display panel 10 at a wide viewing angle. By differentiating the optical functional layer 40 located in the flat display area 11 and the optical functional layer 40 located in the curved display area, the light-gathering ability of at least a portion of the optical functional layer 40 located in the flat display area 11 is greater than that of the optical functional layer 40 located in the curved display area 12. That is, the light from the display panel 10 in the flat display area 11 at a 0° viewing angle and the light from the display panel 10 in the curved display area 12 at a wide viewing angle are enhanced, so that both the display panel 10 in the flat display area 11 and the display panel 10 in the curved display area 12 receive more light towards the light-emitting side of the display panel 10.

[0060] For details, please refer to Figure 2 The display surface of the display panel 10 located in the flat display area 11 is flat, and the flat surface is perpendicular to the light-emitting side of the display panel 10. The light from the display panel 10 at a 0° viewing angle in the flat display area 11 is directed toward the light-emitting side of the display panel 10. If the first brightness is large, the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 at a 0° viewing angle per unit area is high, indicating that the luminous brightness at a large viewing angle is low. This allows most of the light from the display panel 10 located in the flat display area 11 to be directed toward the light-emitting side, thereby increasing the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 at the light-emitting side per unit area in the flat display area 11.

[0061] Continue to refer to Figure 2 The display surface of the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 is curved, and the angle between the curved surface and the light-emitting side of the display panel 10 is greater than 90°. Light from the display panel 10 at a 0° viewing angle in the flat display area 11 is directed toward the side of the display panel 10, and some light from a wide viewing angle can be directed toward the light-emitting side of the display panel 10. If the second brightness is low, the luminous brightness per unit area of ​​the display panel 10 at a 0° viewing angle is low, and the luminous brightness at a wide viewing angle is high. This can reduce the light from the display panel 10 located in the flat display area 11 directed toward the side of the display panel 10, allowing more light to be directed toward the light-emitting side of the display panel 10, thereby increasing the luminous brightness per unit area of ​​the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 on the light-emitting side.

[0062] Furthermore, the optical functional layer 40 of different colored light-emitting elements 25 located in the curved display area 12 can be differentiated on the side away from the substrate 21. For example, an optical functional layer 40 with weaker light-gathering ability can be provided on the side of the light-emitting element 25 with better light-gathering ability away from the substrate 21, and an optical functional layer 40 with stronger light-gathering ability can be provided on the side of the light-emitting element 25 with poorer light-gathering ability away from the substrate 21. In this way, the brightness of different colored sub-pixels in the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 can be uniformly distributed across the wide viewing angle, so that the light emission brightness of each colored sub-pixel in the curved display area 12 on the light-emitting side of the display panel 10 tends to be consistent.

[0063] In summary, by setting an optical functional layer on the side of the light-emitting element away from the substrate, the path of the emitted light from the light-emitting element can be changed, improving the light extraction efficiency of the display panel and contributing to its low power consumption. Since at least part of the optical functional layer is located in the planar display area, it can increase the luminous brightness of the display panel in the planar display area at a 0° viewing angle and decrease the luminous brightness of the display panel in the planar display area at a large viewing angle. This can increase the luminous brightness per unit area of ​​the display panel on the light-emitting side in the planar display area and reduce optical crosstalk between adjacent sub-pixels. The second brightness is less than the first brightness, which can increase the luminous brightness of the display panel in the curved display area at a large viewing angle. This allows more light to be directed to the light-emitting side of the display panel located in the curved display area, increasing the luminous brightness per unit area of ​​the display panel on the light-emitting side and improving the problem of dark colors in the curved display area. At the same height distance from the display surface of the display panel, the second brightness of the display panel per unit area in the curved display area can be different to uniformly increase the brightness of different color sub-pixels in the display panel over a wide viewing angle. This makes the luminous brightness of each color sub-pixel in the curved display area tend to be consistent on the light-emitting side of the display panel, improving the color shift problem caused by the different brightness attenuation of different color light-emitting elements as the viewing angle increases.

[0064] In an alternative embodiment, Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, according to an embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 3 During the manufacturing stage of the display panel 10, the display surface of the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 is also a flat surface. After the manufacturing is completed, the display surface of the display panel 10 in the curved display area 12 can be extruded into a curved surface using a mold. For ease of understanding and explanation, some embodiments of the present invention will be described using a schematic diagram of the structure of the display panel before bending as an example.

[0065] It should be noted that display panels can also be manufactured using 3D printing. This means that during the manufacturing stage, the display surface of the panel located in the curved display area is already curved, eliminating the need for molding and extrusion to create the curved surface. The display panel obtained through 3D printing is identical to... Figure 3The final display surface formed by the display panel is similar to that of a curved display panel, and will not be described again in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0066] Optional, Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, according to another embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 4 The optical functional layer 40 includes a plurality of light-concentrating areas 50; at least a portion of the light-concentrating areas 50 are located in the flat panel display area 11, and the light-concentrating areas 50 are at least corresponding to the light-emitting elements 25 located in the flat panel display area 11.

[0067] For example, the optical functional layer 40 includes a light-concentrating area 50 and a non-light-concentrating area other than the light-concentrating area 50. The light-concentrating ability of the light-concentrating area 50 of the optical functional layer 40 is greater than that of the light-concentrating ability of the non-light-concentrating area of ​​the optical functional layer 40. The light-concentrating area 50 of the optical functional layer 40 may only be provided in the flat display area 11, while the curved display area 12 may not have the optical functional layer 40 or may only have the non-light-concentrating area of ​​the optical functional layer 40. In the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10, the light-concentrating area 50 is correspondingly arranged with the light-emitting element 25 located in the flat display area 11. The light emitted from the light-emitting element 25, after passing through the light-concentrating area 50 of the optical functional layer 40, converges towards the display surface side of the display panel 10, that is, towards the 0° viewing angle of the display panel 10, so that the first brightness of the display panel 10 is relatively large. The curved display area 12 does not have a light-concentrating area 50. The light emitted from the light-emitting element 25 is emitted to various viewing angles, which can ensure that the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 has a high brightness at a large viewing angle and a low second brightness.

[0068] In summary, by providing a focusing area 50 of the optical functional layer 40 in at least the flat display area 11, and by providing the focusing area 50 in correspondence with the light-emitting element 25 located in the flat display area 11, the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 per unit area in the flat display area 11 at a 0° viewing angle can be increased, the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 per unit area in the flat display area 11 at a large viewing angle can be decreased, and the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 per unit area in the flat display area 11 at the light-emitting side can be improved. In the curved display area 12, by not providing the optical functional layer 40 or only providing a non-focusing area with the optical functional layer 40, the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 per unit area in the curved display area 12 at a large viewing angle can be ensured, and the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 per unit area in the curved display area 12 at the light-emitting side can be improved. This is beneficial for improving the problem of dark colors in the curved display area 12 and reducing the power consumption of the display panel 10.

[0069] In an optional embodiment, the light-concentrating region 50 of the optical functional layer 40 is disposed in the flat display area 11 and the partially curved display area 12. The partially curved display area 12 is not provided with the light-concentrating region 50 of the optical functional layer 40. For example, the light-emitting element 25 with better light-concentrating properties located in the curved display area 12 is not provided with the light-concentrating region 50 of the optical functional layer 40 on the side away from the substrate 21. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, according to another embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 5 The light-emitting element 25 includes a blue light-emitting element 251, a green light-emitting element 252, and a red light-emitting element 253. In the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10, the blue light-emitting element 251 located in the curved display area 12 does not overlap with the light-focusing area 50, while the green light-emitting element 252 and the red light-emitting element 253 located in the curved display area 12 both overlap with the light-focusing area 50.

[0070] Among them, the brightness of the blue light-emitting element 251 decreases faster as the viewing angle increases. That is, at the same height distance, the luminous brightness of the blue light-emitting element 251 at a 0° viewing angle is greater, and the light-gathering ability of the blue light-emitting element 251 is better. The brightness of the green light-emitting element 252 and the red light-emitting element 253 decreases slower as the viewing angle increases. The luminous brightness of the green light-emitting element 252 and the red light-emitting element 253 at a 0° viewing angle is smaller, and the light-gathering ability is poor. By setting a focusing area 50 on the side of the green light-emitting element 252 and the red light-emitting element 253 away from the substrate 21, the light emitted by the green light-emitting element 252 and the red light-emitting element 253 can be converged, and the focusing of the blue light, green light and red light of the display panel 10 located uniformly in the curved display area 12 can be improved. This makes the brightness of the blue light, green light and red light per unit area of ​​the display panel 10 tend to be consistent at the same height distance and the same viewing angle. In this way, the color shift problem of the curved display area 12 caused by the different brightness attenuation of the blue light-emitting element 251, green light-emitting element 252 and red light-emitting element 253 as the viewing angle increases can be improved.

[0071] In an optional embodiment, the light-emitting element 25 located in the curved display area 12 near the flat display area 11 does not have a light-concentrating area 50 with optical functional layer 40 on the side away from the substrate 21, and the light-emitting element 25 located in the curved display area 12 away from the flat display area 11 does not have a light-concentrating area 50 with optical functional layer 40 on the side away from the substrate 21. Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 6The curved display area 12 can be divided into two parts: the curved display area 12 includes a part close to the flat display area 11 and a part away from the flat display area 11; in the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10, the light-emitting element 25 located in the part close to the flat display area 11 overlaps with the light-concentrating area 50, and the light-emitting element 25 located in the part away from the flat display area 11 does not overlap with the light-concentrating area 50.

[0072] For example, when the display surface of the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 is curved, the angle between the portion near the flat display area 11 and the display surface of the flat display area 11 is small, and the viewing angle of the display panel 10 located near the flat display area 11 towards the light-emitting side is also small, for example, the viewing angle range is 0°-40°; the angle between the portion far from the flat display area 11 and the display surface of the flat display area 11 is large, and the viewing angle of the display panel 10 located far from the flat display area 11 towards the light-emitting side is also large, for example, the viewing angle range is 40°-80°.

[0073] At the same height distance from the display surface of the display panel 10, the stronger the light focusing ability of the light emitted from the display panel 10 on the display surface side, the higher the luminous brightness per unit area of ​​the display panel at a 0° viewing angle and the lower the luminous brightness at a wide viewing angle; conversely, the weaker the light focusing ability of the light emitted from the display panel 10 on the display surface side, the lower the luminous brightness per unit area of ​​the display panel at a 0° viewing angle and the higher the luminous brightness at a wide viewing angle. A focusing area 50 is provided near the flat display area 11, corresponding to the light-emitting element 25, which has a strong focusing ability on the light emitted from the light-emitting element 25, improving the luminous brightness at small viewing angles, resulting in higher luminous brightness of the display panel 10 at a 0°-40° viewing angle in the part near the flat display area 11; no focusing area 50 is provided in the part far from the flat display area 11, ensuring higher luminous brightness of the display panel 10 at a 40°-80° viewing angle in the part far from the flat display area 11. In this way, the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 located near the flat display area 11 on the light-emitting side can be made consistent with the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 located far from the flat display area 11 on the light-emitting side, thus uniformly increasing the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 on the light-emitting side. This improves the problem of uneven display caused by the different viewing angles of light from the display panel 10 located at different positions in the curved display area 12 towards the light-emitting side.

[0074] Optionally, when the light-gathering capabilities of the focusing areas 50 differ, a focusing area 50 with weaker light-gathering capabilities can be provided at least in the optical functional layer of the curved display area 12. That is, at least some focusing areas 50 with weaker light-gathering capabilities are correspondingly provided with some of the light-emitting elements 25 located in the curved display area 12. Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, according to another embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 7The focusing area 50 includes a first focusing area 51 located in the flat display area 11 and a second focusing area 52 located in the curved display area 12. The focusing ability of the first focusing area 51 is greater than that of the second focusing area 52. At least a portion of the first focusing area 51 is correspondingly disposed with at least a portion of the light-emitting elements 25 located in the flat display area 11, and the second focusing area 52 is correspondingly disposed with at least a portion of the light-emitting elements 25 located in the curved display area 12.

[0075] For example, the first focusing area 51 of the optical functional layer 40 is correspondingly disposed with the light-emitting element 25 located in the flat display area 11, and the second focusing area 52 of the optical functional layer 40 is correspondingly disposed with the light-emitting element 25 located in the curved display area 12. The first focusing area 51 has a stronger focusing effect on the light-emitting element 25, while the second focusing area 52 has a weaker focusing effect on the light-emitting element 25. At the same height distance from the display surface of the display panel 10, the first focusing area 51 makes the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 per unit area in the flat display area 11 higher at a 0° viewing angle, while the second focusing area 52 makes the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 per unit area in the curved display area 12 higher at a wide viewing angle. On the one hand, by differentiating the optical functional layer 40 located in the flat display area 11 and the optical functional layer 40 located in the curved display area 12, the brightness difference between the light emission brightness of the display panel 10 located in the flat display area 11 and the light emission brightness of the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 on the light emission side can be reduced, the light emission intensity of the display panel 10 on the light emission side can be balanced, and the problem of dark color in the curved display area 12 can be improved. On the other hand, the first focusing area 51 and the second focusing area 52 both have a converging effect on the emitted light of the light-emitting element 25, so that the light converges towards the display surface side, which can improve the light emission rate of the display panel 10 and is beneficial to the low power consumption of the display panel 10.

[0076] Optional, Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of another display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 8 At the same height distance from the display surface of the display panel 10, the second brightness of at least a portion of the display panel 10 closer to the flat display area 11 is greater than the second brightness of the display panel 10 farther from the flat display area 11.

[0077] For example, when the display surface of the display panel 10 in the curved display area 12 is curved, the viewing angle of light emitted from the display panel 10 near the flat display area 11 is smaller than that of light emitted from the display panel 10 away from the flat display area 11. In the curved display area 12, the light-gathering ability of the second light-gathering area 52 near the flat display area 11 is greater than that of the second light-gathering area 52 away from the flat display area 11, resulting in higher luminous brightness at a small viewing angle for the display panel 10 near the flat display area 11 and higher luminous brightness at a large viewing angle for the display panel 10 per unit area away from the flat display area 11. This allows the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 near the flat display area 11 on the light-emitting side to be more consistent with that of the display panel 10 away from the flat display area 11, uniformly increasing the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 on the light-emitting side in the curved display area 12 and improving the problem of uneven display in the curved display area 12.

[0078] Optional, Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, according to another embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 9 In the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10, the blue light-emitting element 251 located in the curved display area 12 does not overlap with the light-focusing area 50, while the green light-emitting element 252 and the red light-emitting element 253 located in the curved display area 12 both overlap with the second light-focusing area 52.

[0079] Specifically, the blue light-emitting element 251 has better light-gathering properties, while the green light-emitting elements 252 and red light-emitting elements 253 have poorer light-gathering properties. After the light emitted from the green light-emitting elements 252 and red light-emitting elements 253 located in the curved display area 12 passes through the second focusing area 52, the second focusing area 52 can converge the light emitted from the green light-emitting elements 252 and red light-emitting elements 253 toward the display surface side of the display panel 10. This can evenly concentrate the blue, green, and red light of the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12. Moreover, the concentration of the blue, green, and red light of the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 is less than that of the display panel 10 located in the flat display area 11. This results in higher and more consistent brightness of the blue, green, and red light per unit area of ​​the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 at the same height distance and the same large viewing angle, thus improving the color shift and dark color problems of the curved display area 12.

[0080] Optional, Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, according to another embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 10The optical functional layer 40 includes a first optical layer 41 located on the side of the light-emitting element 25 away from the substrate 21 and a second optical layer 42 located on the side of the first optical layer 41 away from the light-emitting element 25; wherein the refractive index of the second optical layer 42 is greater than the refractive index of the first optical layer 41.

[0081] For example, the optical functional layer 40 is located only in the flat display area 11, and the thickness of the optical functional layer 40 located in the curved display area 12 is 0. The light emitted from the light-emitting element 25 in the flat display area 11 is refracted at the contact surface between the first optical layer 41 and the second optical layer 42, such as... Figure 11 As shown, through the combined action of the first optical layer 41 and the second optical layer 42, the light emitted from the light-emitting element 25 of the flat display area 11, after passing through the optical functional layer 40, slightly converges towards the display surface side of the display panel 10, resulting in a higher first brightness of the display panel 10. Thus, the optical functional layer 40 can increase the luminous brightness per unit area of ​​the display panel 10 on the light-emitting side, reducing optical crosstalk between sub-pixels. The thickness of the optical functional layer in the curved display area is 0, and the light emitted from the light-emitting element 25 in the curved display area 12 does not converge towards the display surface side, resulting in a lower second brightness of the display panel 10. The display panel 10 in the curved display area 12 has a higher luminous brightness over a wide viewing angle. When the display surface of the display panel 10 in the curved display area 12 is curved, more light can be emitted towards the light-emitting side of the display panel 10, increasing the luminous brightness on the light-emitting side and improving the problem of dark colors in the curved display area 12.

[0082] Alternatively, both the flat display area 11 and the curved display area 12 may be provided with optical functional layers 40. In this case, the thickness of the optical functional layer 40 located in the curved display area is greater than 0. Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention. (Refer to...) Figure 12 The optical functional layer 40 located in the curved display area 12 only includes the second optical functional layer 42. The path of the light emitted from the light-emitting element 25 in the curved display area 12 does not change in the optical functional layer 40, and the light does not converge towards the display surface. The luminous brightness of the light-emitting element 25 in the curved display area 12 at a wide viewing angle is not weakened, which can improve the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 in the curved display area 12 on the light-emitting side and improve the problem of dark color in the curved display area 12. In addition, the second optical functional layer 42 of the curved display area 12 can be prepared in the same process as the second optical functional layer 42 of the flat display area 11. There is no need to set a process to remove the optical functional layer 40 of the curved display area 12, nor is it necessary to fill other transparent structures on the side of the light-emitting element 25 in the curved display area 12 away from the substrate 21. This simplifies the process and improves the preparation efficiency.

[0083] It is understood that when both the flat display area 11 and the curved display area 12 are provided with optical functional layers 40, the optical functional layer 40 located in the curved display area 12 may also include only the first optical functional layer 41, which can also improve the light emission brightness of the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 on the light-emitting side and improve the problem of dark color in the curved display area 12. The principle is the same as that in the above embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0084] Optionally, the thickness d of the optical functional layer 40 located in the curved display area 12 can be in the range of 26μm≤d≤31μm.

[0085] For example, the thickness d of the optical functional layer 40 in the curved display area 12 is in the same range as the thickness of the optical functional layer in the flat display area 11. This can reduce the step difference between the display panel 10 in the flat display area 11 and the display panel 10 in the curved display area 12, improve the consistency of the surface height of the optical functional layer 40, and benefit the execution of subsequent processes and product yield.

[0086] In an optional embodiment, both the flat display area 11 and the curved display area 12 are provided with optical functional layers 40, and the optical functional layer 40 located in the curved display area 12 includes a first optical functional layer 41 and a second optical functional layer. The optical functional layer 40 located in the flat display area 11 and the optical functional layer 40 located in the curved display area 12 can be differentiated by changing the contact surfaces of the first optical layer 41 and the second optical layer 42, so that the light-gathering ability of at least a portion of the optical functional layer 40 located in the flat display area 11 is greater than that of the optical functional layer 40 located in the curved display area 12, so that at the same height distance from the display surface of the display panel 10, the first brightness of at least a portion of the display panel 10 is greater than the second brightness.

[0087] Optionally, the light-gathering capability of the focusing region 50 is achieved through the microstructure of the optical functional layer 40. Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, according to another embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 13 The first optical layer 41 includes a plurality of first microlenses 411; the first microlenses 411 are located in the light-concentrating area 50; in the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10, the first microlenses 411 overlap with at least the light-emitting elements 25 located in the planar display area 11; the surface of the first microlenses 411 that contacts the second optical layer 42 is the first surface 401, the first surface 401 is curved, and the first surface 401 protrudes toward the first optical layer 41.

[0088] For example, Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of another light path in the optical functional layer provided in an embodiment of the present invention, for reference. Figure 13 and Figure 14The contact surfaces of the first optical functional layer 41 and the second optical functional layer 42 have an uneven structure. The first surface 401 protrudes towards the first optical layer 41, so the first microlens 411 of the first optical functional layer 41 is a concave lens. The second optical functional layer 42 cooperates with the first microlens 411 of the first optical functional layer 41, and the second optical functional layer 42 includes a convex lens corresponding to the first microlens 411. When the light emitted by the light-emitting element 25 located in the planar display area 11 is incident from the first optical functional layer 41 with a lower refractive index to the second optical functional layer 42 with a higher refractive index and a convex lens, the light converges towards the display surface side of the display panel 10, resulting in a higher first brightness for at least a portion of the display panel 10.

[0089] In an optional embodiment, in a direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10, the light-emitting element 25 located at least partially in the curved display area 12 does not overlap with the first microlens 411. The light emitted from it is directed from the first optical functional layer 41 with a lower refractive index to the second optical functional layer with a higher refractive index. When the contact surface is a plane parallel to the display surface, the light also converges towards the display surface side of the display panel 10. However, the convergence in the display surface side direction is weak, resulting in a lower second brightness of the display panel.

[0090] Compared to the planar structure where the contact surface between the second optical functional layer 42 and the first optical functional layer 41 is planar, the first surface 401 provided in this embodiment of the invention is curved and protrudes towards the first optical layer 41, so that the normal of the first surface 401 has a certain angle with the light-emitting side of the display panel 10, and the direction of the normal converges on the light-emitting side. When the emitted light from the light-emitting element 25 is incident on the second optical functional layer 42, the emitted light from the light-emitting element 25 can move closer to the normal direction, so that the light converges on the display surface side. In this way, the light-gathering ability of the light-gathering area 50 can be increased, thereby improving the light emission rate of the display panel 10. At the same time, in the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10, at least a portion of the first microlens 411 does not overlap with the light-emitting element 25 located in the curved display area 12, so that at the same height distance from the display surface of the display panel, the first brightness of at least a portion of the display panel 10 is greater than the second brightness, improving the problems of color darkness and color shift in the curved display area 12.

[0091] Optional, Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, according to another embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 15 The protrusion height h1 of the first surface 401 located in the curved display area 12 is less than or equal to the protrusion height h2 of the first surface 401 located in the flat display area 11.

[0092] For example, Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of another light path in the optical functional layer provided in an embodiment of the present invention, for reference. Figure 15 and Figure 16 When the protrusion height of the first surface 401 is small, the curvature of the first surface 401 is small, the angle between the normal of the first surface 401 and the light-emitting side of the display panel 10 is small, and the convergence of the normal direction on the display surface side is weakened. For light rays in the same direction, the smaller the protrusion height of the first surface 401, the smaller the incident angle α of the light rays on the first surface 401. According to sinβ=n2 / n1 / sinα, the refraction angle β of the light rays on the first surface 401 increases. Combined with the weakening of the convergence of the normal in the light-emitting side direction, the convergence of the light rays in the display surface side direction is also weakened.

[0093] Continue to refer to Figure 15 and Figure 16 The light-concentrating area 50 located in the curved display area 12 includes a first microlens 411 and a first surface 401 with a small protrusion height. The light-concentrating area 50 located in the curved display area 12 is correspondingly arranged with at least a portion of the light-emitting elements 25 located in the curved display area 12. In this way, the luminous brightness of at least a portion of the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 at a 0° viewing angle can be reduced, so that the second brightness of at least a portion of the display panel 10 is smaller, and the luminous brightness of at least a portion of the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 at a large viewing angle is higher. This reduces the brightness difference between the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 per unit area on the light-emitting side located in the flat display area 11 and the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 per unit area on the light-emitting side located in the curved display area 12, balances the luminous intensity of the display panel 10 on the light-emitting side, and improves the problem of dark color in the curved display area 12.

[0094] In an alternative embodiment, Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, according to another embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 17 In the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10, the protrusion height of the first surface 401 that overlaps with the blue light-emitting element 251 located in the curved display area 12 is the first height h3, and the protrusion height of the first surface 401 that overlaps with the green light-emitting element 252 or the red light-emitting element 253 located in the curved display area 12 is the second height h4. The first height h3 is less than the second height h4.

[0095] Specifically, in the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10, the curvature of the first surface 401 overlapping with the blue light-emitting element 251 located in the curved display area 12 is small. When the light emitted from the blue light-emitting element 251 is refracted on the first surface 401, the light convergence in the display surface side direction is weak. In the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10, the curvature of the first surface 401 overlapping with the green light-emitting element 252 or the red light-emitting element 253 located in the curved display area 12 is large. When the light emitted from the green light-emitting element 252 or the red light-emitting element 253 is refracted on the first surface 401, the light convergence in the display surface side direction is strong. In this way, the light focusing properties of blue, green and red light on the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 can be uniformly concentrated, so that the brightness of blue, green and red light on the display panel 10 per unit area in the curved display area 12 tends to be consistent at the same height distance and the same viewing angle. This improves the color shift problem in the curved display area 12 caused by the different brightness attenuation of blue light-emitting element 251, green light-emitting element 252 and red light-emitting element 253 as the viewing angle increases.

[0096] Optional, Figure 18 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, according to another embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 18 In the curved display area 12, the protrusion height of the first surface 401 near the flat display area 11 is greater than the protrusion height of the first surface 401 away from the flat display area 11.

[0097] Specifically, as the distance from the flat display area 11 increases, the curvature of the first surface 401 gradually decreases, and the convergence of the normal direction on the display surface side gradually weakens. For light rays in the same direction, as the distance from the flat display area 11 increases, the convergence of light rays on the display surface side gradually weakens, and the second brightness of the display panel 10 decreases. Therefore, at the same height distance from the display surface of the display panel 10, the second brightness of the display panel 10 closer to the flat display area 11 is greater than that of the display panel 10 farther from the flat display area 11. The luminous brightness per unit area of ​​the display panel 10 closer to the flat display area 11 is higher at a smaller viewing angle, while the luminous brightness per unit area of ​​the display panel 10 farther from the flat display area 11 is higher at a larger viewing angle. This can uniformly distribute the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 located on the light-emitting side of the curved display area 12, improving the problem of uneven display caused by different viewing angles of the display panel 10 located at different positions in the curved display area 12 towards the light-emitting side.

[0098] Optional, Figure 19 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, according to another embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 19The first optical layer 41 includes a plurality of first openings 412; the first openings 412 are located in the light-concentrating area 50; in a direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10, the first openings 412 overlap with at least the light-emitting elements 25 located in the planar display area 11; the size of the first opening 412 on the side closer to the light-emitting element 25 is smaller than the size on the side farther away from the light-emitting element 25.

[0099] For example, the focusing area 50 includes a first optical functional layer 41 forming a first opening 412 and a second optical functional layer 42 filling the first opening 412. The path of the light emitted from the light-emitting element 25 changes at the contact surface between the first optical functional layer 41 and the second optical functional layer 42, causing the light emitted from the light-emitting element 25 to converge toward the display surface side of the display panel 10, such as... Figure 20 As shown, the narrow-angle light emitted from the light-emitting element 25 can directly pass through the first opening 412, only passing through the second optical functional layer before reaching the display surface side of the display panel 10. A portion of the light with a wider angle of view is directed towards the sidewall of the first opening 412, specifically from the second optical functional layer 42 (with a higher refractive index) to the first optical functional layer 41 (with a lower refractive index). Therefore, when the incident angle γ is sufficiently large, the wide-angle light emitted from the light-emitting element 25 can undergo total internal reflection at the sidewall of the first opening 412, reflecting back to the second optical functional layer and converging towards the display surface side of the display panel 10. This increases the light-gathering capability of the focusing area 50, thereby improving the light extraction efficiency of the display panel 10.

[0100] In an alternative embodiment, reference continues. Figure 19 In the direction parallel to the display surface of the display panel 10, the minimum size d' of the first opening 412 is greater than or equal to the minimum size d0 of the light-emitting element 25. This allows most of the light emitted from the light-emitting element 25 to reach the first opening 412, especially allowing more light with a wider viewing angle to reach the side wall of the first opening 412, which is beneficial for the light-gathering area 50 to converge the light emitted from the light-emitting element 25.

[0101] Optional, Figure 21 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, according to another embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 21 The first opening 412 includes a first sub-opening 4121 located in the flat display area 11 and a second sub-opening 4122 located in the curved display area 12; in the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10, at least a portion of the first sub-opening 4121 overlaps with at least a portion of the light-emitting elements 25 located in the flat display area 11, and the second sub-opening 4122 overlaps with at least a portion of the light-emitting elements 25 located in the curved display area 12; in the direction parallel to the display surface of the display panel 10, the minimum size of the first sub-opening 4121 is d1, the minimum size of the second sub-opening 4122 is d2, and d1 < d2.

[0102] For example, Figure 22 This is a schematic diagram of another light path in the optical functional layer provided in an embodiment of the present invention, for reference. Figure 21 and Figure 22 In the direction parallel to the display surface of the display panel 10, the minimum size d2 of the second sub-opening 4122 is relatively large. Light rays with small viewing angles and some light rays with large viewing angles emitted from the light-emitting element 25 pass directly through the second sub-opening 4122, only passing through the second optical functional layer before reaching the display surface side of the display panel 10. This prevents some of the large-viewing-angle light rays emitted from at least some of the light-emitting elements 25 located in the curved display area 12 from converging towards the display surface side of the display panel 10, ensuring that the luminous brightness of at least some of the display panels 10 located in the curved display area 12 is not weakened at large viewing angles, thereby improving the problem of insufficient luminous brightness of the display panels 10 on the light-emitting side of the curved display area 12. In an optional embodiment, 0.1μm≤d2-d1≤2μm.

[0103] In an alternative embodiment, Figure 23 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided by another embodiment of the present invention. In the curved display area, in the direction parallel to the display surface of the display panel 10, the minimum size of the second sub-opening 4122 near the flat display area 11 is smaller than the minimum size of the second sub-opening 4122 away from the flat display area 11.

[0104] Specifically, as the distance from the flat display area 11 increases, the minimum size of the second sub-opening 4122 gradually increases. Less light from the emitted light element 25 reaches the sidewall of the second sub-opening 4122, resulting in a decrease in the second brightness of the display panel 10. At the same wide viewing angle, the luminous brightness per unit area of ​​the display panel 10 closer to the flat display area 11 is less than that of the display panel 10 farther from the flat display area 11. That is, the luminous brightness per unit area of ​​the display panel 10 closer to the flat display area 11 is greater at a narrow viewing angle, while the luminous brightness per unit area of ​​the display panel 10 farther from the flat display area 11 is greater at a wide viewing angle. This improves the problem of uneven display caused by different viewing angles of the display panel 10 located at different positions in the curved display area 12 as it emits light towards the light-emitting side.

[0105] Optional, Figure 24 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided by another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 25 This is a schematic diagram of another light path in the optical functional layer provided in an embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 24 and Figure 25The angle between the sidewall of the first sub-opening 4121 and the display surface is the first included angle θ1; the angle between the sidewall of the second sub-opening 4122 and the display surface is the second included angle θ2; both the first included angle θ1 and the second included angle θ2 are less than 90°, and the first included angle θ1 is greater than the second included angle θ2.

[0106] Specifically, the first included angle θ1 is greater than the second included angle θ2. The angle between the normal of the sidewall of the first sub-opening 4121 and the light-emitting side of the display panel 10 is larger, and the convergence of the normal direction on the display surface side is stronger. The angle between the normal of the sidewall of the second sub-opening 4122 and the light-emitting side of the display panel 10 is smaller, and the convergence of the normal direction on the display surface side is weaker. For light rays in the same direction, the incident angle γ of the light ray on the sidewall of the first sub-opening 4121 is smaller, and the reflection angle γ' is also smaller; the incident angle γ of the light ray on the sidewall of the second sub-opening 4122 is larger, and the reflection angle γ' is also larger. Combining the reflection angle γ' of the light from the first sub-opening 4121 and the second sub-opening 4122, and the directions of the normals to the sidewalls of the first and second sub-openings 4121 and 4122 respectively, the light converges more strongly in the direction of the display surface after total internal reflection at the sidewall of the first sub-opening 4121; the light converges less strongly in the direction of the display surface after total internal reflection at the sidewall of the second sub-opening 4122. Furthermore, because the second angle θ2 between the second sub-opening 4122 and the display surface is small, and the slope of the sidewall of the second sub-opening 4122 is also small, some of the wide-angle light emitted from the light-emitting element 25 cannot reach the sidewall of the second sub-opening 4122. Some of the wide-angle light exits the display panel 10 without total internal reflection, further reducing the convergence of the light emitted from the light-emitting element 25 in the direction of the display surface. This ensures at least a portion of the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 has sufficient brightness at a wide angle, thus improving the problem of insufficient brightness on the light-emitting side of the display panel 10 in the curved display area 12.

[0107] It is understandable that when the first included angle θ1 is greater than the second included angle θ2, d1 is less than or equal to d2, which can achieve that at the same height distance from the display surface of the display panel, at least part of the display panel has a first brightness greater than a second brightness, thus improving the color shift and color darkness problems of the curved display area 12.

[0108] Optionally, the optical functional layer 40 can be differentiated by processing it in a way that, in addition to making some optical functional layers 40 have different light-gathering capabilities, a light-expanding area can also be set in the optical functional layer to make some optical functional layers 40 have different light-expanding capabilities. Figure 26 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention. (Refer to...) Figure 26 The optical functional layer 40 also includes a plurality of light-expanding areas 60; the light-expanding areas 60 are located in the curved display area 12, and the light-expanding areas 60 are correspondingly arranged with at least a portion of the light-emitting elements 25 located in the curved display area 12.

[0109] Specifically, the light emitted from the light-emitting element 25 located in the curved display area 12 diffuses towards the display surface side of the display panel 19 after passing through the light-expanding area 60 of the optical functional layer 40. This results in a lower second brightness of the display panel 10 and a higher luminous brightness per unit area of ​​the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 at a wider viewing angle. This increases the luminous brightness per unit area of ​​the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 on the light-emitting side, which helps to improve the problem of dark color in the curved display area 12 and the low power consumption of the display panel 10.

[0110] Optional, Figure 27 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, provided in another embodiment of the present invention. (Refer to...) Figure 27 In the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10, the blue light-emitting element 251 located in the curved display area 12 overlaps with the light-expanding area 60, while the green light-emitting element 252 and the red light-emitting element 253 located in the curved display area 12 do not overlap with the light-expanding area 60.

[0111] Specifically, after the light emitted by the blue light-emitting element 251 located in the curved display area 12 passes through the light-expanding area 60, the light-expanding area 60 can diffuse the light emitted by the blue light-emitting element 251 toward the display surface of the display panel 10, thereby increasing the brightness of the blue light emitted per unit area of ​​the display panel 10 with a wide viewing angle located in the curved display area 12. The green light-emitting element 252 and the red light-emitting element 253 have poor light-gathering properties. The green and red light emitted per unit area of ​​the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 has a large brightness at a wide viewing angle. By setting a light-diffusing area 60 on the side of the blue light-emitting element 251 located in the curved display area 12 away from the substrate 21, the light emitted by the blue light-emitting element 251 can be diffused. This makes the brightness of the blue, green and red light per unit area of ​​the display panel 10 tend to be consistent at the same height and distance and at the same wide viewing angle. In this way, the color shift problem of the curved display area 12 caused by the different brightness attenuation of the blue light-emitting element 251, green light-emitting element 252 and red light-emitting element 253 as the viewing angle increases can be improved.

[0112] Optionally, the light diffusion capability of the light-amplifying region 60 can also be achieved through the microstructure of the optical functional layer 40. Figure 28 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, according to another embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 28 The first optical layer 41 includes a plurality of second microlenses 413; the second microlenses 413 are located in the light-expanding area 60; in a direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10, the second microlenses 413 overlap with at least a portion of the light-emitting elements 25 located in the curved display area 12; the surface of the second microlenses 413 that contacts the second optical layer 42 is the second surface 402, the second surface 402 is curved, and the second surface 402 protrudes toward the second optical layer 42.

[0113] For example, Figure 29 This is a schematic diagram of another light path in the optical functional layer provided in an embodiment of the present invention, for reference. Figure 28 and Figure 29 The second surface 402 protrudes towards the second optical layer 42, so the second microlens 413 of the first optical functional layer 41 is a convex lens, and the second optical functional layer 42 includes a concave lens corresponding to the first microlens 411. When the light emitted by the light-emitting element 25 located in the curved display area 12 is directed from the first optical functional layer 41 with a lower refractive index to the second optical functional layer 42 with a higher refractive index and a concave lens, the light diffuses towards the display surface side of the display panel 10, resulting in a lower second brightness of the display panel 10. This makes the first brightness of at least a portion of the display panel 10 greater than the second brightness at the same height distance from the display surface, thus improving the problems of color darkness and color shift in the curved display area 12.

[0114] Optional, Figure 30 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, according to another embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 31 In the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10, the protrusion height of the second surface 402 that overlaps with the blue light-emitting element 251 located in the curved display area 12 is the third height h5, and the protrusion height of the second surface 402 that overlaps with the green light-emitting element 252 or the red light-emitting element 253 located in the curved display area 12 is the fourth height h6. The third height h5 is greater than the fourth height h6.

[0115] Specifically, in the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10, the curvature of the second surface 402 overlapping with the blue light-emitting element 251 located in the curved display area 12 is relatively large. When the light emitted from the blue light-emitting element 251 is refracted on the second surface 402, the light diffusion in the display surface side direction is stronger. In the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10, the curvature of the second surface 402 overlapping with the green light-emitting element 252 or the red light-emitting element 253 located in the curved display area 12 is relatively small. When the light emitted from the green light-emitting element 252 or the red light-emitting element 253 is refracted on the second surface 402, the light diffusion in the display surface side direction is weaker. In this way, the brightness of blue, green and red light on the light-emitting side of the display panel 10 per unit area tends to be consistent at the same height and viewing angle, and the blue, green and red light on the light-emitting side of the display panel 10 located uniformly in the curved display area 12 is improved. This improves the color shift problem of the curved display area 12 caused by the different brightness attenuation of blue light-emitting element 251, green light-emitting element 252 and red light-emitting element 253 as the viewing angle increases.

[0116] Optional, Figure 31This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, according to another embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 31 In the curved display area 12, the protrusion height of the second surface 402 near the flat display area 11 is less than the protrusion height of the second surface 402 away from the flat display area 11.

[0117] Specifically, as the distance from the flat display area 11 increases, the curvature of the second surface 402 gradually increases, and the diffusion of the normal direction on the light-emitting side gradually strengthens. For light rays in the same direction, as the distance from the flat display area 11 increases, the diffusion of light rays in the light-emitting side gradually strengthens, and the second brightness of the display panel 10 decreases. Therefore, at the same height distance from the display surface of the display panel 10, the second brightness of the display panel 10 closer to the flat display area 11 is greater than that of the display panel 10 farther from the flat display area 11. This can uniformly distribute the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 located in the curved display area 12 on the light-emitting side, improving the problem of uneven display caused by different viewing angles of the display panel 10 located at different positions in the curved display area 12 towards the light-emitting side.

[0118] Optional, Figure 32 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display panel before bending, according to another embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 32 The second optical layer 42 includes a plurality of second openings 422; the second openings 422 are located in the light-expanding area 60; in a direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 10, the second openings 422 overlap with at least a portion of the light-emitting elements 25 located in the curved display area 12; the size of the second opening 422 on the side closer to the light-emitting element 25 is larger than the size on the side farther away from the light-emitting element 25.

[0119] For example, the light-expanding area 60 includes a second optical functional layer 42 forming a second opening 422 and a first optical functional layer 41 filling the second opening 422. The path of the light emitted from the light-emitting element 25 changes at the contact surface between the first optical functional layer 41 and the second optical functional layer 42, causing the light emitted from the light-emitting element 25 to diffuse toward the display surface side of the display panel 10, such as... Figure 33 As shown, at least a portion of the light emitted from the light-emitting elements 25 located in the curved display area 12 is directed toward the sidewall of the second opening 422, and is directed from the first optical functional layer 41 with a lower refractive index to the second optical functional layer 42 with a higher refractive index. The incident angle ε is greater than the refraction angle η, and the light diffuses toward the display surface side of the display panel 10, reducing the second brightness of the display panel 10 and increasing the luminous brightness of the display panel 10 per unit area in the curved display area 12 at a wide viewing angle, effectively improving the problem of dark color in the curved display area 12.

[0120] Based on the same inventive concept, embodiments of the present invention also provide a display device. Figure 34This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display device provided in an embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 34 The display device 70 includes the display panel 10 provided in any embodiment of the present invention. The display device 70 provided in the embodiments of the present invention can be... Figure 34 The mobile phone shown can also be any electronic product with display function, including but not limited to the following categories: television, laptop, desktop monitor, tablet computer, digital camera, smart bracelet, smart glasses, in-vehicle display, medical equipment, industrial control equipment, touch interactive terminal, etc. The embodiments of the present invention do not make any special limitations on this.

[0121] Note that the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the technical principles employed. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, and various obvious changes, readjustments, and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, although the present invention has been described in detail through the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and may include many other equivalent embodiments without departing from the concept of the present invention, the scope of which is determined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A display panel, characterized in that, include: Flat display area and curved display area; The display panel also includes: The display functional layer includes a substrate and a plurality of light-emitting elements located on one side of the substrate; An optical functional layer is located on the side of the light-emitting element that is away from the substrate. The luminance at a 0° viewing angle per unit area of ​​the display panel located in the planar display area is the first luminance; the luminance at a 0° viewing angle per unit area of ​​the display panel located in the curved display area is the second luminance; wherein, the 0° viewing angle is the viewing angle perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel; Specifically, the optical functional layer is provided only in the planar display area, and the optical functional layer in the planar display area has a converging effect on the light emitted by the light-emitting element; or, the optical functional layer is provided in both the planar display area and the curved display area, and the light-gathering ability of at least a portion of the optical functional layer in the planar display area is greater than that of the optical functional layer in the curved display area, so that at the same height distance from the display surface of the display panel, the first brightness of at least a portion of the display panel is greater than the second brightness.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The optical functional layer includes multiple light-concentrating regions; At least a portion of the light-focusing area is located in the flat panel display area, and the light-focusing area is at least corresponding to the light-emitting element located in the flat panel display area; The light emitted from the light-emitting element converges towards the display surface of the display panel after passing through the focusing area of ​​the optical functional layer.

3. The display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that, The focusing area includes a first focusing area located in the planar display area and a second focusing area located in the curved display area; At least a portion of the first focusing area is correspondingly disposed with at least a portion of the light-emitting elements located in the planar display area, and the second focusing area is correspondingly disposed with at least a portion of the light-emitting elements located in the curved display area; The light-gathering capacity of the first light-gathering zone is greater than that of the second light-gathering zone.

4. The display panel according to claim 3, characterized in that, The light-emitting elements include blue light-emitting elements, green light-emitting elements, and red light-emitting elements; In the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel, the blue light-emitting element located in the curved display area does not overlap with the light-focusing area, while the green light-emitting element and the red light-emitting element located in the curved display area both overlap with the second light-focusing area.

5. The display panel according to claim 3, characterized in that, At the same height distance from the display surface of the display panel, the second brightness of at least a portion of the display panel closer to the flat display area is greater than the second brightness of the display panel farther away from the flat display area.

6. The display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that, The optical functional layer includes a first optical layer located on the side of the light-emitting element away from the substrate and a second optical layer located on the side of the first optical layer away from the light-emitting element; The refractive index of the second optical layer is greater than that of the first optical layer.

7. The display panel according to claim 6, characterized in that, The thickness of the optical functional layer located in the curved display area is greater than 0; The first optical layer and / or the second optical layer are located in the curved display area.

8. The display panel according to claim 7, characterized in that, The thickness d of the optical functional layer located in the curved display area has a range of 26μm≤d≤31μm.

9. The display panel according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first optical layer includes a plurality of first microlenses; the first microlenses are located in the light-concentrating area; in a direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel, the first microlenses overlap at least with the light-emitting elements located in the planar display area; The surface in contact with the second optical layer of the first microlens is the first surface, which is curved and protrudes toward the first optical layer.

10. The display panel according to claim 9, characterized in that, The height of the protrusion of the first surface located in the curved display area is less than or equal to the height of the protrusion of the first surface located in the flat display area.

11. The display panel according to claim 10, characterized in that, In the curved display area, the protrusion height of the first surface closer to the flat display area is greater than the protrusion height of the first surface farther away from the flat display area.

12. The display panel according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first optical layer includes a plurality of first openings; the first openings are located in the light-concentrating region; In a direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel, the first opening at least overlaps with the light-emitting element located in the planar display area; The size of the first opening on the side closer to the light-emitting element is smaller than the size on the side farther away from the light-emitting element.

13. The display panel according to claim 12, characterized in that, The first opening includes a first sub-opening located in the planar display area and a second sub-opening located in the curved display area; In a direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel, at least a portion of the first sub-opening overlaps with at least a portion of the light-emitting elements located in the planar display area, and the second sub-opening overlaps with at least a portion of the light-emitting elements located in the curved display area; In a direction parallel to the display surface of the display panel, the minimum size of the first sub-opening is d1, and the minimum size of the second sub-opening is d2, where d1 < d2.

14. The display panel according to claim 13, characterized in that, 0.1μm≤d2-d1≤2μm.

15. The display panel according to claim 12, characterized in that, The first opening includes a first sub-opening located in the planar display area and a second sub-opening located in the curved display area; In a direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel, at least a portion of the first sub-opening overlaps with at least a portion of the light-emitting elements located in the planar display area, and the second sub-opening is correspondingly disposed with at least a portion of the light-emitting elements located in the curved display area; The angle between the sidewall of the first sub-opening and the display surface is a first angle; the angle between the sidewall of the second sub-opening and the display surface is a second angle; both the first angle and the second angle are less than 90°, and the first angle is greater than the second angle.

16. The display panel according to claim 6, characterized in that, The optical functional layer also includes multiple light-amplifying regions; The light-expanding area is located in the curved display area, and the light-expanding area is correspondingly disposed with at least a portion of the light-emitting elements located in the curved display area; The light emitted by the light-emitting element diffuses towards the display surface of the display panel after passing through the light-amplifying area of ​​the optical functional layer.

17. The display panel according to claim 16, characterized in that, The light-emitting elements include blue light-emitting elements, green light-emitting elements, and red light-emitting elements; In a direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel, the blue light-emitting element located in the curved display area overlaps with the light-expanding area, while the green light-emitting element and the red light-emitting element located in the curved display area do not overlap with the light-expanding area.

18. The display panel according to claim 16, characterized in that, The first optical layer includes a plurality of second microlenses; the second microlenses are located in the light-amplifying area; in a direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel, the second microlenses overlap with at least a portion of the light-emitting elements located in the curved display area; The surface of the second microlens that contacts the second optical layer is the second surface, which is curved and protrudes toward the second optical layer.

19. The display panel according to claim 18, characterized in that, The light-emitting elements include blue light-emitting elements, green light-emitting elements, and red light-emitting elements; In a direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel, the protrusion height of the second surface overlapping the blue light-emitting element located in the curved display area is the third height, and the protrusion height of the second surface overlapping the green light-emitting element or the red light-emitting element located in the curved display area is the fourth height, wherein the third height is greater than the fourth height.

20. The display panel according to claim 18, characterized in that, In the curved display area, the protrusion height of the second surface closer to the flat display area is smaller than the protrusion height of the second surface farther away from the flat display area.

21. The display panel according to claim 16, characterized in that, The second optical layer includes a plurality of second openings; the second openings are located in the light-amplifying area; In a direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel, the second opening overlaps with at least a portion of the light-emitting element located in the curved display area; The size of the second opening on the side closer to the light-emitting element is larger than the size on the side farther away from the light-emitting element.

22. A display device, characterized in that, include: The display panel according to any one of claims 1-21.

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