Array substrate and display device

Abstract

The present application provides an array substrate and a display device, the array substrate comprises a substrate, a light-emitting layer, a pixel definition layer, an electrode layer and an encapsulation layer arranged on the substrate, wherein the pixel definition layer defines a plurality of pixel regions, the light-emitting layer comprises an organic light-emitting functional layer in the plurality of pixel regions; the electrode layer covers the pixel definition layer and the organic light-emitting functional layer; the encapsulation layer covers the electrode layer; at least part of the surface of the side of the encapsulation layer away from the electrode layer is formed into a surface treatment area, and the surface treatment area is used for scattering the passing light. By using the surface treatment area to scatter the passing light, the color circle phenomenon of gradually diffusing from the center to the outside when the point light source is used to irradiate the screen can be avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of display device technology, and more specifically, to an array substrate and a display device. Background Technology

[0002] Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays are one of the mainstream display technologies today. They are thinner and lighter, consume less energy, have higher brightness, better luminous efficiency, can display pure black, and can be bent. They are widely used in televisions, computers (monitors), mobile phones, tablets, and other fields. However, when the screen is off and a point light source shines into it, a halo effect is produced that gradually spreads outward from the center. This problem urgently needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art, and proposes an array substrate and display device that can avoid the phenomenon of a colored halo that gradually spreads from the center to the outside when a point light source is used to illuminate the screen.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, embodiments of this disclosure provide an array substrate, including a substrate and a light-emitting layer, a pixel-defining layer, an electrode layer, and an encapsulation layer disposed on the substrate. The pixel-defining layer defines a plurality of pixel regions, and the light-emitting layer includes an organic light-emitting functional layer located in the plurality of pixel regions. The electrode layer covers the pixel-defining layer and the organic light-emitting functional layer. The encapsulation layer covers the electrode layer. At least a portion of the surface of the encapsulation layer facing away from the electrode layer is formed as a surface treatment region, and the surface treatment region has an uneven structure for scattering passing light.

[0005] Optionally, the slope of the pixel defining layer adjacent to the pixel area is formed with a gentle slope area, and the angle between the gentle slope area and the plane of the substrate is less than or equal to a preset angle; the area of ​​the gentle slope area projected onto the surface of the encapsulation layer on the side away from the electrode layer is called the projection area.

[0006] The surface treatment area includes at least the projection area.

[0007] Optionally, the gentle slope area is located near the top of the slope.

[0008] Optionally, the preset angle is 20°.

[0009] Optionally, the surface treatment area is the region of the pixel defining layer projected onto the surface of the encapsulation layer opposite to the electrode layer; or, the surface treatment area is the entire region of the surface of the encapsulation layer opposite to the electrode layer.

[0010] Optionally, the surface-treated area is covered with a reflective layer that can reflect and transmit passing light.

[0011] Optionally, the reflectivity of the reflective layer is greater than or equal to 5% and less than or equal to 15%.

[0012] Optionally, the thickness of the reflective layer is greater than or equal to 0.2 micrometers and less than or equal to 2 micrometers.

[0013] Optionally, the encapsulation layer includes a first inorganic layer covering the electrode layer, an organic layer covering the first inorganic layer, and a second inorganic layer covering the organic layer, wherein a surface treatment area is provided on the surface of at least one of the first inorganic layer, the organic layer, and the second inorganic layer on the side opposite to the electrode layer.

[0014] Optionally, the surface treatment area provided on the organic layer or the second inorganic layer is the entire surface of the organic layer or the second inorganic layer on the side opposite to the electrode layer.

[0015] This disclosure also provides a display device, including the array substrate described above. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the array substrate used in this application;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the array substrate used in this application;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the array substrate with a reflective layer used in this application;

[0019] Figure 4 This is a side sectional view of the display device used in this application;

[0020] Figure 5a This is a schematic diagram illustrating the reflection of light on a slope with a gentle gradient.

[0021] Figure 5b This is a schematic diagram illustrating the reflection of light on a steep slope. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. 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.

[0023] The shapes and sizes of the components in the accompanying drawings do not reflect actual proportions and are intended only to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0024] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in this disclosure shall have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. The terms “first,” “second,” and similar terms used in this disclosure do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Similarly, the terms “an,” “a,” or “the,” and similar terms do not indicate a quantity limitation, but rather indicate the presence of at least one. The terms “including,” “comprising,” or “containing,” and similar terms mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the elements or objects listed following the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. The terms “connected,” “linked,” or similar terms are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. The terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” and “right,” etc., are used only to indicate relative positional relationships, and these relative positional relationships may change accordingly when the absolute position of the described objects changes.

[0025] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, but includes modifications to the configuration based on the manufacturing process. Therefore, the areas illustrated in the drawings are schematic, and the shapes of the areas shown illustrate specific shapes of the areas of an element, but are not intended to be limiting.

[0026] This disclosure provides an array substrate, with reference to... Figure 1-4 As shown, the device includes a substrate 1 and a light-emitting layer 3, a pixel-defining layer 2, an electrode layer 4, and an encapsulation layer disposed on the substrate 1. The pixel-defining layer 2 defines a plurality of pixel regions, and the light-emitting layer includes an organic light-emitting functional layer 3 located in the plurality of pixel regions. The electrode layer 4 covers the pixel-defining layer 2 and the organic light-emitting functional layer 3. The encapsulation layer covers the electrode layer 4. At least a portion of the surface of the encapsulation layer facing away from the electrode layer 4 is formed as a surface treatment region 9, and the surface treatment region 9 has an uneven structure for scattering passing light.

[0027] Among them, the surface treatment area 9 can be formed by treating part or all of the surface of the encapsulation layer through surface treatment to form a concave-convex structure. The concave-convex structure is a microstructure that produces many continuous protrusions or depressions on the surface of the encapsulation layer. That is, it forms a structure that protrudes or is recessed relative to the original smooth plane. The structure can be a protruding hemisphere, ellipsoid, or a protruding structure with an arc surface, or it can be a hemispherical or ellipsoidal groove, making the surface of the encapsulation layer relatively rough.

[0028] In addition, the electrode layer 4 can be a cathode layer and contain cathode metal, giving it a semi-reflective property. That is, when white light shines on the electrode layer 4, some of the light can pass through the electrode layer 4 and shine on other structures below it, while the other part of the light is reflected by the electrode layer 4. The reflection usually occurs on the surface of the electrode layer 4 away from the substrate 1. Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 Only the light path reflected after irradiating electrode layer 4 is shown. In the prior art, such as Figure 4 As shown, the electrode layer 4 uniformly covers the pixel defining layer 2, and the cross-sectional shape of the side of the pixel defining layer 2 is approximately as follows. Figure 4 The trapezoid shown has sloped surfaces on both sides near the light-emitting layer 3. Therefore, the electrode layer 4 also has corresponding sloped surfaces, and it can be assumed that the sloped surfaces on the pixel defining layer 2 and the corresponding sloped surfaces on the electrode layer 4 have the same slope angle (the angle between the tangential direction of the slope and the plane where the substrate is located). When the incident light is incident at a 0-degree angle (i.e., as shown in the diagram), Figure 1 as well as Figure 4 As shown, when incident from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the substrate, the principal maximum direction of the single-groove diffraction is consistent with the direction of the reflected light, that is, the refraction angle of the reflected light is 2θ, where θ is the slope angle of the electrode layer 4 at the location of the reflected light. Figure 4 As shown. This part of the energy is assigned to the k-th order principal fringe of the inter-slot interference, and because the wavelengths of red, green and blue light are different, the incident white light will be split during reflection, that is, a spectral splitting phenomenon similar to a blazed grating occurs. When the split light is emitted from the top layer of the display panel, a colored halo that gradually spreads outward from the center can be observed.

[0029] To address the issue of a colored halo effect that gradually spreads outwards from the center when a point light source illuminates the screen, one approach is to increase the slope angle of the electrode layer 4 at the point of reflection. This is because... Figure 5a As shown, when the slope angle of the portion of electrode layer 4 illuminated by light is small, the light reflected at this location can directly exit from the interface 11 between the display panel and the air, and as... Figure 5b As shown, when the slope angle of the part of the electrode layer 4 that is illuminated by light is large, the reflected light will undergo total internal reflection at the interface 11, that is, no light will be emitted through the interface 11. Naturally, the colored aperture phenomenon caused by the reflected light after beam splitting will not be visible at this time.

[0030] However, in reality, the connection between the sloped portion and the planar portion of the pixel defining layer 2 is a smoothly transitioning curved surface. The same applies to the electrode layer 4 covering the pixel defining layer 2. Therefore, it is inevitable that there will always be a portion of the electrode layer 4 with a smaller slope angle. Furthermore, the increase in slope angle will also lead to an increase in the thickness of the pixel defining layer 2. Since the encapsulation layer also has leveling requirements, even if the surface of the encapsulation layer away from the substrate 1 needs to be planar, the increased thickness of the pixel defining layer 2 will inevitably make the encapsulation layer covering the electrode layer 4 thicker. However, due to the inherent characteristics of the encapsulation layer, this increased thickness will lead to a series of adverse effects on the encapsulation layer's configuration, such as decreased leveling. If the encapsulation layer thickness needs to be increased accordingly, it may result in a worse viewing angle and problems such as protrusions and deformation around the encapsulation layer.

[0031] In the technical solution adopted in this application, in order to solve the problem of a colored halo phenomenon that gradually spreads outward from the center when a point light source illuminates the screen, such as... Figure 1 As shown, in this application, at least a portion of the surface of the encapsulation layer facing away from the electrode layer 4 is formed as a surface treatment area 9. The surface treatment area 9 is used to scatter the passing light. That is, the light reflected from the electrode layer 4, when passing through the surface treatment area 9, causes the originally regular spectral dispersion to become irregular after scattering, and the colored halo phenomenon can no longer be observed by the human eye after it is emitted, thereby solving the above-mentioned technical problem. The surface treatment area 9 can be formed by treating part or all of the surface of the encapsulation layer through surface treatment to form an uneven structure. This uneven structure is to create numerous continuous protrusions or depressions on the surface, that is, to form a structure that protrudes or depresses relative to the original smooth plane. This structure can be a protruding hemisphere, ellipsoid, or a protruding structure with an arc surface, or it can be a hemispherical or ellipsoidal groove, making the surface of the encapsulation layer relatively rough. The surface treatment method used can be a surface treatment process or procedure using plasma, such as an ashing process.

[0032] like Figure 1-2 The image shows a raised microstructure. Taking this as an example, when light rays, after being split by electrode layer 4, shine onto the microstructure from below, the tangential angles at different locations on the surface of the microstructure are different. Therefore, the light rays can be refracted at this point, causing the light rays that were originally illuminating in the same direction to shine in different directions, becoming irregular. Because the light rays are dispersed, the human eye can no longer observe the large aperture phenomenon of color, thus effectively avoiding the occurrence of the large aperture phenomenon of color.

[0033] To more effectively address the issue of color halos, a gentle slope region 51 is formed on the slope adjacent to the pixel area of ​​the pixel defining layer 2. The angle between the gentle slope region 51 and the plane of the substrate 1 is less than or equal to a preset angle. The area on the surface of the encapsulation layer opposite to the electrode layer 4 where the gentle slope region 51 is projected is the projection region. The surface treatment region 9 includes at least the projection region. Through this solution, the surface treatment region 9 can be specifically set at the corresponding position of the gentle slope region 51 on the encapsulation layer. This avoids the occurrence of color halos and also prevents the impact on normally emitted light. Since the effect of scattering the passing light also affects the brightness emitted by the light-emitting element in the light-emitting layer 3, minimizing the surface treatment region 9 can avoid affecting the brightness and visual experience of normal display functions.

[0034] The preset angle of the gentle slope zone 51 is 20°. Through calculation and experimentation, it was found that when the slope angle of the electrode layer 4 is greater than 18 degrees, the following can occur: Figure 5b As shown, total internal reflection occurs at interface 11, and no colored aperture phenomenon occurs. Therefore, limiting the angle of the gentle slope area 51 to less than 20° can effectively avoid the occurrence of colored aperture phenomenon and minimize the impact on normally emitted light.

[0035] For the portion of the pixel defining layer 2 where the angle between it and the plane of the substrate 1 is 0 degrees, when light shines on the corresponding electrode layer 4, since the light is actually shining perpendicularly, no light splitting phenomenon will occur. Therefore, the projection area formed on the electrode layer 4 for the portion of the pixel defining layer 2 where the angle between it and the plane of the substrate 1 is 0 degrees does not need to be provided with a surface treatment area 9.

[0036] The gentle slope area is located near the top of the slope, with... Figure 3 Taking the pixel defining layer 2 shown as an example, the top of the slope is the plane formed on the side of the pixel defining layer 2 away from the substrate 1, that is, the gentle slope area is located in the upper half of the slope.

[0037] In addition, such as Figure 1-2 As shown, considering the processing technology, the surface treatment area 9 can be chosen to be the area of ​​the pixel defining layer 2 projected onto the surface of the encapsulation layer opposite to the electrode layer 4; or, the surface treatment area 9 can be the entire area of ​​the surface of the encapsulation layer opposite to the electrode layer 4. Since there is a gradual transition between the sloped portion and the planar portion, it is relatively difficult to directly and accurately determine the specific range of the sloped area 51 in actual production. Since the sloped area 51 is actually part of the pixel defining layer 2, the surface treatment area 9 can be directly selected to correspond to the area of ​​the entire pixel defining layer 2 projected onto the surface of the encapsulation layer opposite to the electrode layer 4. Furthermore, for cost considerations or to simplify the process, such as... Figure 2As shown, a surface treatment area 9 can also be provided on the surface of the entire encapsulation layer away from the electrode layer 4. This not only eliminates the need to identify non-surface treatment areas, but also eliminates the need for a masking step to prevent non-surface treatment areas from being processed by the processing technology.

[0038] Optionally, to further enhance the scattering effect of light passing through the surface treatment area 9, the surface treatment area 9 is covered with a reflective layer 10. The reflective layer 10 also has a semi-reflective and semi-transparent characteristic, that is, the reflective layer 10 can reflect a portion of the light passing through, while transmitting another portion of the light. The material of the reflective layer 10 can be selected as a material containing silver or aluminum or their oxides. Since the reflective layer 10 reflects part of the spectral light generated after reflection by the electrode layer 4, it can further scatter the light passing through the surface treatment area 9, thereby further avoiding the problem of a colored halo phenomenon that gradually spreads from the center to the outside when a point light source is used to illuminate the screen.

[0039] The reflective layer 10 has a reflectivity of 5% or more and 15% or less to reflect light. Consequently, its transmittance is 85% or more and 95% or less. Excessive reflectivity will affect the light emitted by the light-emitting device in the light-emitting layer 3, leading to adverse effects such as reduced brightness of the display device. The thickness of the reflective layer 10 can be set to 0.2 micrometers or more and 2 micrometers or less.

[0040] Specifically, such as Figure 4 As shown, the encapsulation layer includes a first inorganic layer 5 covering the electrode layer 4, an organic layer 6 covering the first inorganic layer 5, and a second inorganic layer 7 covering the organic layer 6. A surface treatment region 9 is provided on the surface of at least one of the first inorganic layer 5, the organic layer 6, and the second inorganic layer 7 facing away from the electrode layer 4. The surface treatment region 9 can be provided on only one of the first inorganic layer 5, the organic layer 6, and the second inorganic layer 7, or simultaneously on both of the first inorganic layer 5, the organic layer 6, and the second inorganic layer 7. For example, the surface treatment region 9 can be provided on the surfaces of the first inorganic layer 5 and the organic layer 6 facing away from the electrode layer 4, on the surfaces of the first inorganic layer 5 and the second inorganic layer 7 facing away from the electrode layer 4, or on the surfaces of the organic layer 6 and the second inorganic layer 7 facing away from the electrode layer 4.

[0041] As another implementation, surface treatment areas 9 can be provided on the first inorganic layer 5, the organic layer 6, and the second inorganic layer 7 simultaneously.

[0042] To prevent insufficient light transmittance due to excessive reflective layers 10, when surface treatment areas 9 are provided on multiple encapsulation layers, the reflective layer 10 is only provided on the layer furthest from the electrode layer 4. For example, when surface treatment areas 9 are provided on the surfaces of the first inorganic layer 5 and the organic layer 6 on the side away from the electrode layer 4, the reflective layer 10 is provided on the surface treatment area 9 on the surface of the organic layer 6 on the side away from the electrode layer 4.

[0043] like Figure 4 As shown, the first inorganic layer 5 is typically relatively thin and closely adhered to the electrode layer 4. Therefore, after light is reflected by the electrode layer 4, it travels only a short path to reach the surface of the first inorganic layer 5 facing away from the electrode layer 4. Thus, the surface treatment area 9 on the first inorganic layer 5 can selectively correspond only to the slope area 51 or the projection area of ​​the pixel interface layer 2 projected onto the surface of the first inorganic layer 5 facing away from the electrode layer 4. However, for the organic layer 6, since it is usually leveled to make its surface away from the electrode layer 4 flat, it inevitably has a thicker thickness than the first inorganic layer 5. Figure 2 As shown, it is not a uniform layer structure covering the electrode layer 4 like the first inorganic layer 5. Its surface near the first inorganic layer 5 changes with the undulation of the first inorganic layer 5.

[0044] Therefore, as Figure 4 As shown, after the beam is reflected by the electrode layer 4, when it reaches the surface of the second inorganic layer 7 away from the electrode layer 4, the area has deviated from the position of the gentle slope area 51 or the pixel interface layer 2 projected onto it, making it difficult to determine the specific location of the light emission. The second inorganic layer 7 covers the organic layer 6, and the light reaching the second inorganic layer 7 must first pass through the organic layer 6. Therefore, for the same reason, after the beam is reflected by the electrode layer 4, when it reaches the surface of the second inorganic layer 7 away from the electrode layer 4, the area has deviated from the position of the gentle slope area 51 or the pixel interface layer 2 projected onto it, making it difficult to determine the specific location of the light emission. To solve the above problem, the surface treatment area 9 provided on the organic layer 6 or the second inorganic layer 7 is the entire surface of the organic layer 6 or the second inorganic layer 7 on the side away from the electrode layer 4.

[0045] The reflective layer 10 does not need to be set in correspondence with the entire surface treatment area 9. For example, when the entire surface of the first inorganic layer 5 away from the electrode layer 4 is the surface treatment area 9, the reflective layer 10 is only set in the portion of the slope area 51 that is orthogonally projected on the surface of the first inorganic layer 5 away from the electrode layer 4, or it is set in the portion of the pixel defining layer 2 that is orthogonally projected on the surface of the first inorganic layer 5 away from the electrode layer 4.

[0046] This disclosure also provides a display device, including the array substrate described above, which can effectively avoid the problem of a colored halo phenomenon that gradually spreads from the center to the outside when a point light source illuminates the screen.

[0047] Optionally, a color resist layer 8 is covered on the array substrate. The color resist layer 8 includes a black matrix, a color filter, and a planarization layer. The color filter is disposed corresponding to the light-emitting device of the light-emitting layer, the black matrix is ​​disposed corresponding to the pixel defining layer 2, and the orthogonal projection area of ​​the black matrix on the pixel defining layer 2 does not exceed the range of the pixel defining layer 2. The planarization layer is disposed covering the black matrix and the color filter.

[0048] It is understood that the above embodiments are merely exemplary implementations used to illustrate the principles of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, and these modifications and improvements are also considered to be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An array substrate comprising a substrate and a light-emitting layer, a pixel defining layer, an electrode layer and an encapsulating layer disposed on the substrate, wherein, The pixel defining layer defines a plurality of pixel regions, the light emitting layer includes an organic light emitting functional layer in the plurality of pixel regions, the electrode layer covers the pixel defining layer and the organic light emitting functional layer, and the encapsulation layer covers the electrode layer. At least a part of a surface of the encapsulation layer on a side away from the electrode layer is formed as a surface treatment region, the surface treatment region is formed with a concave-convex structure for scattering passing light. An inclined surface of the pixel defining layer adjacent to the pixel region is formed with a gentle slope region, an included angle between the gentle slope region and a plane where the substrate is located is less than or equal to a preset angle, the preset angle is 20°, and a region of the gentle slope region orthogonally projected on a surface of the encapsulation layer on a side away from the electrode layer is a projection region. The surface treatment region at least includes the projection region. The gentle slope region is located at a position close to a top of the inclined surface.

2. The array substrate of claim 1, wherein, The surface treatment region is a region of the pixel defining layer orthogonally projected on the surface of the encapsulation layer on the side away from the electrode layer, or the surface treatment region is an entire region of the surface of the encapsulation layer on the side away from the electrode layer.

3. The array substrate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The surface treatment region is covered with a reflective layer, the reflective layer is capable of reflecting and transmitting passing light.

4. The array substrate of claim 3, wherein, The reflectivity of the reflective layer is greater than or equal to 5% and less than or equal to 15%.

5. The array substrate of claim 3, wherein, The thickness of the reflective layer is greater than or equal to 0.2 microns and less than or equal to 2 microns.

6. The array substrate of claim 1, wherein, The encapsulation layer includes a first inorganic layer covering the electrode layer, an organic layer covering the first inorganic layer, and a second inorganic layer covering the organic layer, and a surface of at least one of the first inorganic layer, the organic layer, and the second inorganic layer on a side away from the electrode layer is provided with the surface treatment region.

7. The array substrate of claim 6, wherein, The surface treatment region provided on the organic layer or the second inorganic layer is an entire surface of the organic layer or the second inorganic layer on a side away from the electrode layer.

8. A display device, characterized by comprising: An array substrate including any one of the above claims 1-7.

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