Display panel and display device

Abstract

The present application discloses a display panel and a display device, wherein the display panel further comprises a substrate, a light-emitting unit layer, an encapsulation barrier layer, an encapsulation layer and a water vapor detection structure, wherein the light-emitting unit layer is arranged on the substrate; the encapsulation barrier layer is arranged around the light-emitting unit layer and is located in the non-display area; the encapsulation layer covers the light-emitting unit layer and partially extends onto the encapsulation barrier layer; the water vapor detection structure is arranged in the encapsulation barrier layer, the water vapor detection structure is formed by at least a conductive hydrogel material, and the water vapor detection structure is used to judge whether there is water vapor intrusion according to the change in resistance or capacitance after the water vapor detection structure absorbs water vapor. The present application adds a water vapor detection structure on the encapsulation barrier layer, and the conductivity of the conductive hydrogel material changes after absorbing water, so as to judge the water vapor intrusion at different positions, thereby detecting water vapor inside the display panel.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) have the advantages of surface light source, cold light, energy saving, fast response, flexibility, ultra-thinness and low cost, and their mass production technology is becoming increasingly mature. Since OLEDs have poor stability and are extremely sensitive to water and oxygen, encapsulation technology is particularly critical. The purpose of encapsulation is mainly to prevent water vapor and oxygen from entering the OLED, and cracks are easily generated during the production process of the encapsulation layer. When cracks appear on the display screen or water vapor enters from the outside, the aging speed of the OLED organic light-emitting layer device will be accelerated. Therefore, strict encapsulation must be performed to extend the life and improve stability.

[0003] However, even after strict packaging, the above-mentioned problems are still inevitable. Therefore, some specific detection methods are needed, such as real-time detection. The degree of failure of the device caused by external influences can be inferred through the detection results, and the display brightness or display mode of the display area can be adjusted accordingly. With the help of display compensation, the service life of the display device can be extended. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present application is to provide a display panel and a display device. By adding a water vapor detection structure on the encapsulation barrier layer, the conductivity of the conductive hydrogel material changes after absorbing water, and the water vapor intrusion situation at different positions can be judged to detect the water vapor inside the display panel.

[0005] The present application discloses a display panel, which includes a display area and a non-display area. The display panel also includes a substrate, a light-emitting unit layer, an encapsulation barrier layer, an encapsulation layer and a water vapor detection structure. The light-emitting unit layer is arranged on the substrate and is located in the display area; the encapsulation barrier layer is arranged around the light-emitting unit layer and is located in the non-display area; the encapsulation layer covers the light-emitting unit layer and partially extends onto the encapsulation barrier layer; the water vapor detection structure is arranged in the encapsulation barrier layer, the water vapor detection structure is formed by at least a conductive hydrogel material, and the water vapor detection structure is used to judge whether there is water vapor intrusion according to the change of resistance or capacitance after the water vapor detection structure absorbs water vapor.

[0006] Optionally, the encapsulation layer includes a first inorganic encapsulation layer, an organic encapsulation layer and a second inorganic encapsulation layer, the first inorganic encapsulation layer is arranged on the light-emitting unit layer, extends from the display area to the non-display area, and covers the encapsulation barrier layer; the organic encapsulation layer covers the light-emitting unit layer and is blocked by the encapsulation barrier layer; the second inorganic encapsulation layer is arranged on the organic encapsulation layer, extends from the display area to the non-display area, and covers the encapsulation barrier layer; the water vapor detection structure is arranged between the first inorganic encapsulation layer and the organic encapsulation layer.

[0007] Optionally, the encapsulation barrier layer includes a first barrier dam and a second barrier dam, the organic encapsulation layer is arranged to cover the first barrier dam, and on the orthographic projection of the substrate, the organic encapsulation layer does not overlap or partially overlaps with the second barrier dam; the water vapor detection structure includes a first detection part, and the first detection part is arranged between the first barrier dam and the second barrier dam.

[0008] Optionally, the water vapor detection structure further includes a second detection portion, and the second detection portion is arranged on the first blocking dam and / or the second blocking dam.

[0009] Optionally, the display panel also includes a water vapor absorption structure, which is formed of an insulating hydrogel material and is arranged between the first blocking dam and the second blocking dam; and the water vapor absorption structure is arranged on the first inorganic encapsulation layer and under the organic encapsulation layer.

[0010] Optionally, at least one notch is provided on the water vapor absorption structure, and the first detection portion is provided in the notch; in the orthographic projection of the substrate, the water vapor absorption structure and the first detection portion do not overlap.

[0011] Optionally, the width of the notch is greater than the width of the first detection portion, and the first detection portion and the water vapor absorption structure are spaced at least 5 um apart.

[0012] Optionally, a first extension portion and a second extension portion are further provided at both ends of the water vapor absorption structure, the first extension portion extends toward the first blocking dam and partially covers the top surface of the first blocking dam; the second extension portion extends toward the second blocking dam and partially covers the top surface of the second blocking dam; on the orthographic projection of the substrate, the first extension portion and the second extension portion do not overlap with the second detection portion, respectively.

[0013] Optionally, the thickness of the first extension portion and the second extension portion is between 1um and 1.5um; the first blocking dam is arranged on a side of the second blocking dam close to the display area, and the second detection portion is arranged on the second blocking dam on a side of the second extension portion away from the display area.

[0014] The present application also discloses a display device, comprising a driving circuit and the above-mentioned display panel, wherein the driving circuit is used to drive the display panel to display.

[0015] The present application forms a water vapor detection structure by using a conductive hydrogel material. After absorbing water vapor, the conductive hydrogel material will swell in volume, so that its conductivity will change accordingly, for example, the resistance or capacitance will change, and after absorbing water vapor of different concentrations, the change in conductivity is different, and it has a high sensitivity. Relatively speaking, the conductive hydrogel material is used to detect the degree of water vapor invasion into the encapsulation layer, and the detection accuracy is high, and the water vapor invasion at different positions can be judged. At the same time, the conductive hydrogel material has a certain ability to absorb water vapor. In the case of water vapor invasion, it can absorb water vapor to a certain extent to prevent water vapor from further entering the encapsulation layer. Moreover, since the encapsulation layer at the position of the encapsulation barrier layer is prone to cracks or pinholes, etc., it is easy to cause water vapor invasion at this position. Therefore, by setting the water vapor detection structure in this area, this embodiment can quickly find out whether there is water vapor invasion at this position, and even calculate the degree of water vapor invasion according to the change in conductivity. Through subsequent process improvement or display compensation, the encapsulation effect of the display panel is improved, thereby effectively improving the quality of the display panel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The included drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the present application, which constitute a part of the specification, are used to illustrate the implementation methods of the present application, and together with the text description, explain the principles of the present application. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work. In the drawings:

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a display panel according to a first embodiment of the present application;

[0018] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the preparation of the hydrogel of the present application;

[0019] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the water vapor detection structure of the present application;

[0020] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a display panel according to a second embodiment of the present application;

[0021] Figure 5 is a schematic top view of a display panel according to a second embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a display panel according to a third embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a display device of the present application.

[0024] Among them, 100, display panel; 101, display area; 102, non-display area; 110, substrate; 120, light-emitting unit layer; 130, encapsulation barrier layer; 131, first barrier dam; 132, second barrier dam; 140, encapsulation layer; 141, first inorganic encapsulation layer; 142, organic encapsulation layer; 143, second inorganic encapsulation layer; 150, water vapor detection structure; 151, first detection part; 152, second detection part; 160, water vapor absorption structure; 161, notch; 162, first extension part; 163, second extension part; 200, display device; 210, driving circuit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] It should be understood that the terms used herein, the specific structures and functional details disclosed are only for describing specific embodiments and are representative, but the present application can be implemented in many alternative forms and should not be construed as being limited to only the embodiments described herein.

[0026] In the description of the present application, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, unless otherwise specified, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features; "multiple" means two or more. In addition, the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", etc. indicating orientation or positional relationships are described based on the orientation or relative positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the simplified description of the present application, rather than indicating that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0027] The present application is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and optional embodiments.

[0028] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a display panel of the first embodiment of the present application, see Figure 1As shown, the present application discloses a display panel 100, which includes a display area 101 and a non-display area 102. The display panel 100 also includes a substrate 110, a light-emitting unit layer 120, an encapsulation barrier layer 130, an encapsulation layer 140 and a water vapor detection structure 150. The light-emitting unit layer 120 is arranged on the substrate 110 and is located in the display area 101; the encapsulation barrier layer 130 is arranged around the light-emitting unit layer 120 and is located in the non-display area 102; the encapsulation layer 140 covers the light-emitting unit layer 120 and partially extends onto the encapsulation barrier layer 130; the water vapor detection structure 150 is arranged in the encapsulation barrier layer 130, and the water vapor detection structure 150 is formed by at least a conductive hydrogel material. The water vapor detection structure 150 is used to judge whether there is water vapor intrusion according to the change of resistance or capacitance of the water vapor detection structure 150 after absorbing water vapor.

[0029] The present application forms a water vapor detection structure 150 by using a conductive hydrogel material. After absorbing water vapor, the conductive hydrogel material will swell in volume, so that its conductivity will change accordingly, for example, the resistance or capacitance will change, and after absorbing water vapor of different concentrations, the change in conductivity is different, and it has a high sensitivity. Relatively speaking, the use of conductive hydrogel materials to detect the degree of water vapor intrusion into the encapsulation layer 140 has high detection accuracy and can determine the water vapor intrusion situation at different locations. At the same time, the conductive hydrogel material has a certain ability to absorb water vapor. In the case of water vapor intrusion, it can adsorb water vapor to a certain extent to prevent the water vapor from further entering the encapsulation layer 140. Moreover, since cracks or pinholes are prone to appear in the encapsulation layer 140 at the position of the encapsulation barrier layer 130, water vapor intrusion is prone to occur at this position. Therefore, this embodiment sets the water vapor detection structure 150 in this area, which can quickly detect whether there is water vapor intrusion at this position, and even calculate the degree of water vapor intrusion according to the change in conductivity. Through subsequent process improvements or display compensation, the encapsulation effect of the display panel 100 is improved, thereby effectively improving the quality of the display panel 100.

[0030] Specifically, the conductive hydrogel material in the present application is generally prepared by doping a conductive additive in a hydrogel, so that the hydrogel has high conductivity. The hydrogel is synthesized from monomers or polymers by forming a water-permeable cross-linked network. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the hydrogel preparation of the present application, see Figure 2 As shown, the monomers are polymerized to form polymers, and then an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) is formed through the gelation process (cross-linking method). The hydrogel material can retain a large amount of water and maintain a three-dimensional network structure. The cross-linking of the condensed network can be divided into non-covalent bonds (i.e. physical cross-linking) or covalent bonds (i.e. chemical cross-linking). Hydrogels are usually jelly-like solids with elasticity.

[0031] The conductive hydrogel material in this application is a self-healing hydrogel based on sodium alginate. Self-healing refers to a material that can automatically repair and restore its original function after being damaged. Sodium alginate [C6H7O6Na]n is a byproduct of iodine and mannitol extracted from brown algae such as Sargassum or kelp. It is a linear natural polysaccharide polymer composed of β-1, 4-D-mannuronic acid (β-D-Mannuronic, M) units and α-1, 4-L-guluronic acid (α-L-guluronic, G) units, with a structure such as Figure 2 As shown. The difference in the specific gravity and position of the two uronic acids (i.e., M unit and G unit) in the molecule of sodium alginate will result in significant differences in the gelling power, viscosity, molecular selectivity and other characteristics of alginate. Since sodium alginate contains a large number of carboxyl groups, it can show polyanion phenomenon in aqueous solution and produce corresponding adhesive substances, making the aqueous solution of sodium alginate very viscous. What is important is that the Na+ in the G unit of sodium alginate can exchange ions with multivalent metal cations (Zn2+, Fe3+, Ba2+, Cr3+, Ca2+, etc.) in aqueous solution, so that multiple G units and multivalent metal cations are cross-linked to form an "egg box" model, as shown in Figure 2 As shown, a sodium alginate-based hydrogel containing metal ions is formed. Sodium alginate can quickly produce gel materials under very warm climate conditions and is widely used due to its good film-forming properties and high gel material strength.

[0032] The self-healing hydrogel of this embodiment can be a sodium alginate-chitosan quaternary ammonium salt water gel material. The self-healing mechanism of the sodium alginate-chitosan quaternary ammonium salt water gel is mainly based on ion exchange and polymerization. Ion exchange: When the gel breaks, the sodium alginate and chitosan quaternary ammonium salt will flow to each other and recombine to form a new ion cross-linked network. Here, the ion exchange can promote the reassembly of ions at the break in the gel to achieve self-healing of the material. Polymerization: The water molecules in the gel will reconnect at the fracture gap 161 to form a chain structure of water. When the water molecules at the damaged part of the gel gradually evaporate or are excluded, the chain structure will gradually form a solid bridge at the break, so that the material can be reconnected. This self-healing ability of polymerization can be achieved by controlling the concentration and molecular structure of the polymerizer in the gel. At the same time, temperature can also accelerate the healing process, which is not required in this proposal.

[0033] Adding conductive additives such as metals (nano-Ag, Cu, etc.) or non-metals (C nanotubes, graphene, electroactive aniline tetramer (AT)) to the above-mentioned sodium alginate-chitosan quaternary ammonium salt water gel can make the self-healing gel have high conductivity. Improving the composition of the polymer gel can produce a gel with a conductivity of 374S cm-1 and an elongation of 250%. 3D / 4D printing, soft lithography, screen printing, direct ink writing and inkjet printing technology can all be used to manufacture self-healing hydrogel electronic devices with complex structures and consistent performance.

[0034] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the water vapor detection structure of the present application, see Figure 3 According to the resistance test model in the paper, conductive hydrogel is essentially a resistive conductor. After absorbing water, its internal structure will change to a certain extent, resulting in a corresponding change in its conductivity. By using the resistance-related test, the relationship between water vapor at different concentrations and resistance changes can be obtained. Figure 3 In the capacitance test model, conductive hydrogel is essentially a resistive conductor. An insulating hydrogel with a certain swelling coefficient can be set between two layers of conductive hydrogel. When the insulating hydrogel between the conductive hydrogels absorbs water, the internal structure changes, resulting in changes in the capacitance on both sides. At the same time, the conductivity of the conductive hydrogel will also change after absorbing water. Combining the two to test the capacitance characteristics can more accurately detect water vapor conditions.

[0035] Specifically, the light-emitting unit layer 120 generally forms a plurality of organic light-emitting diodes (i.e., light-emitting units) in an array, in which the organic semiconductor material and the light-emitting material in the organic light-emitting diode emit light through carrier injection and recombination under the drive of the electric field. The basic structure of the light-emitting unit includes a cathode, a light-emitting layer and an anode, and the light-emitting layer is sandwiched between the anode and the cathode, and the light-emitting layer is driven by the electric field generated by the cathode and the anode to emit light. The light-emitting unit is susceptible to degradation caused by intrinsic factors, such as degradation of the electrode and the light-emitting layer caused by oxygen, and degradation caused by the reaction between the light-emitting layer and the interface. The light-emitting unit is also susceptible to degradation caused by external factors, such as external water vapor, oxygen, ultraviolet rays and degradation caused by the process. Therefore, the encapsulation layer 140 is a crucial process step in the OLED display panel 100, and the quality of the encapsulation layer 140 directly affects the quality of the display panel 100.

[0036] Continue to see Figure 1 As shown, the encapsulation layer 140 in this embodiment adopts thin film encapsulation technology, that is, the encapsulation layer 140 adopts a laminated design of multiple organic material layers and inorganic material layers, and achieves the encapsulation effect by stacking several layers.

[0037] The encapsulation layer 140 includes a first inorganic encapsulation layer 141, an organic encapsulation layer 142 and a second inorganic encapsulation layer 143. The first inorganic encapsulation layer 141 is arranged on the light-emitting unit layer 120, extends from the display area 101 to the non-display area 102, and covers the encapsulation barrier layer 130; the organic encapsulation layer 142 is arranged to cover the light-emitting unit layer 120 and is blocked by the encapsulation barrier layer 130; the second inorganic encapsulation layer 143 is arranged on the organic encapsulation layer 142, extends from the display area 101 to the non-display area 102, and covers the encapsulation barrier layer 130; the water vapor detection structure 150 is arranged between the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141 and the organic encapsulation layer 142.

[0038] Among them, the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141 can be formed of silicon oxynitride material, and the thickness can be between 1um and 2um. The organic encapsulation layer 142 can be formed of acrylic or resin organic material, and the thickness can be between 10um and 30um. The second inorganic encapsulation layer 143 can be formed of silicon nitride material, and the thickness can be about 2um. The inorganic material layer is generally prepared by vacuum deposition, and the organic material layer is generally formed by inkjet printing. The organic material after inkjet printing is statically leveled so that the organic encapsulation layer 142 is flattened to the top of the light-emitting unit layer 120. The main function of the encapsulation barrier layer 130 is to prevent the organic material from overflowing during the static leveling process of the organic material.

[0039] However, generally speaking, in the process of preparing the light-emitting unit, some unavoidable protruding small particles (Particles) have appeared on the surface of the film layer before the cathode is plated, and because the cathode layer is very thin, these protruding small particles are sufficient to pierce the cathode, causing pinholes or protrusions in the metal layer of the cathode. As a result, in the subsequent vacuum deposition of the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141, because the inorganic film layer in the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141 cannot be made thick, and these particles are uneven in size, some particles may not be completely covered after being encapsulated by the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141, and are partially exposed. Some small particles will form pinholes after being covered. There will be pinholes and exposed particles on the surface of the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141, and there will be fine cracks in the film layer around these particles. The presence of these pinholes and cracks will also reduce the strength and sealing of the film layer. When the acrylic organic encapsulation layer 142 is cured on top of these film layers, the acrylic will fill the pinholes and cracks, and the water vapor path will directly invade along these interfaces, causing direct failure of the device. Generally, the failure of the encapsulation layer 140 changes and deepens in real time and has regional characteristics. When the encapsulation fails, the damage caused to the device is different, and the degree of influence on the corresponding display is also different.

[0040] In this embodiment, by setting the water vapor detection structure 150 between the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141 and the organic encapsulation layer 142, when cracks appear in the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141, detection is performed through the water vapor detection structure 150 set between the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141 and the organic encapsulation layer 142. Normally, when cracks appear in the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141, in a humid environment test or actual use, water vapor will gradually extend along the position of the crack toward the display area 101, causing the light-emitting units in the display area 101 to have different degrees of failure. In this embodiment, by setting the water vapor detection structure 150 at the position where cracks are most likely to occur, water vapor intrusion is detected, and different degrees of compensation can be performed according to the degree of failure of the device, which can improve the display effect or extend the service life.

[0041] It is worth mentioning that in the area where the organic encapsulation layer 142 is not provided, that is, the area where only the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141 and the second inorganic encapsulation layer 143 are provided, in this area, the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141 and the second inorganic encapsulation layer 143 are in direct contact, and in this area, a water vapor detection structure 150 can also be provided to detect cracks in this area. The water vapor detection structure 150 made of conductive hydrogel material also has a certain buffering function, especially when the cracks extend from the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141 to the second inorganic encapsulation layer 143, it has a certain blocking effect, so that the cracks stop extending at the position of the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141.

[0042] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a display panel of the second embodiment of the present application, see Figure 4 As shown, the present application also discloses a display panel 100, which includes a display area 101 and a non-display area 102. The display panel 100 also includes a substrate 110, a light-emitting unit layer 120, an encapsulation barrier layer 130, an encapsulation layer 140 and a water vapor detection structure 150, wherein the encapsulation barrier layer 130 includes a first blocking dam 131 and a second blocking dam 132, the organic encapsulation layer 142 is arranged to cover the first blocking dam 131, and on the orthographic projection of the substrate 110, the organic encapsulation layer 142 does not overlap or partially overlaps with the second blocking dam 132; the water vapor detection structure 150 includes a first detection portion 151, and the first detection portion 151 is arranged between the first blocking dam 131 and the second blocking dam 132.

[0043] In this embodiment, the first detection part 151 is formed of a conductive hydrogel material and is used to detect the water vapor intrusion between the first barrier dam 131 and the second barrier dam 132. When there are multiple first barrier dams 131 and second barrier dams 132, multiple first detection parts 151 can be provided, each of which is located between the multiple first barrier dams 131 and second barrier dams 132. Of course, multiple first detection parts 151 are provided between the first barrier dam 131 and the second barrier dam 132.

[0044] In a specific embodiment, the water vapor detection structure 150 further includes a second detection portion 152, which is disposed on the first barrier dam 131 and / or the second barrier dam 132. The second detection portion 152 in this embodiment can be used in combination with the first detection portion 151 or can be used alone.

[0045] Generally speaking, the first barrier dam 131 and the second barrier dam 132 are respectively arranged around the display area 101. For example, the first barrier dam 131 is arranged around the light-emitting unit layer 120, and the second barrier dam 132 is arranged around the first barrier dam 131. That is, the first barrier dam 131 and the second barrier dam 132 are generally in the shape of a runway. Taking the first barrier dam 131 as an example, the extension direction of the first barrier dam 131 is the surrounding direction, and the width of the first barrier dam 131 is the length perpendicular to the extension direction. Generally speaking, on the adjacent two sides of the display panel 100, the width directions of the first barrier dam 131 at different positions are perpendicular.

[0046] Of course, in addition to the above-mentioned solution of providing two layers of barrier dams, more layers of barrier dams can be provided to increase the water vapor intrusion path of the encapsulation layer 140. And the multi-layer barrier dams can gradually increase or decrease in sequence along the direction from the display area 101 to the non-display area 102. In this embodiment, a second detection unit 152 can be provided on the multi-layer barrier dam, and a first detection unit 151 can be provided between the plurality of barrier dams. Through the cooperation of the first detection unit 151 and the second detection unit 152, the water vapor intrusion situation of the encapsulation barrier layer 130 area can be detected to improve the encapsulation effect of the display panel 100.

[0047] Figure 5 is a top view schematic diagram of a display panel of the second embodiment of the present application, see Figure 5 As shown, in the circumferential direction, a plurality of first detection parts 151 may be arranged at intervals, and a plurality of second detection parts 152 may be arranged at intervals. By arranging them at intervals, the space occupied by the first detection parts 151 and the second detection parts 152 can be reduced. Moreover, since water vapor intrusion is uncertain and can be detected within a certain range, it is not necessary to arrange a continuous circle of first detection parts 151. By arranging one first detection part 151 within a certain area, it is possible to detect whether there is water vapor intrusion in the area.

[0048] In a specific embodiment, the number of the first detection parts 151 and the second detection parts 152 arranged around the display panel 100 gradually decreases in the direction gradually approaching the display area 101 along the edge of the non-display area 102. For example, the outermost circle of second detection parts 152 is closest to the outside and has the greatest possibility of water vapor intrusion. Therefore, the more the number of second detection parts 152 is arranged, the smaller the interval between adjacent second detection parts 152. For example, the innermost circle of second detection parts 152 has a lower possibility of water vapor intrusion. Therefore, the number of second detection parts 152 that can be arranged is smaller, and the interval between adjacent second detection parts 152 is larger. Of course, the arrangement rule of the first detection parts 151 can be based on the design of the second detection parts 152.

[0049] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a display panel of the third embodiment of the present application, see Figure 6 As shown, the present application also discloses a display panel 100. Based on the above-mentioned embodiment one or embodiment two, a water vapor absorption structure 160 is added in this embodiment. The water vapor absorption structure 160 is formed by an insulating hydrogel material. The water vapor absorption structure 160 is arranged between the first blocking dam 131 and the second blocking dam 132; and the water vapor absorption structure 160 is arranged on the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141 and under the organic encapsulation layer 142.

[0050] Among them, the insulating hydrogel material refers to the insulating material doped in the hydrogel material. Specifically, it may include dissolving chitosan (CS) in acrylic acid (AA) and then introducing it into the hydrophobic association system to successfully synthesize one or more of HP (AAm / AA) -CS hydrogel, polymer-doped semi-crystalline polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel or polyacrylic acid (PAAc) / gelatin composite hydrogel. The insulating hydrogel material has an extremely small water absorption swelling coefficient, has relatively excellent tensile toughness and tensile elasticity, and has a good water absorption effect. Of course, the above materials are not limited to this, so the different doping substances in the hydrogel have a great influence on its polymer properties, because different materials can be used, and they only need to have the above characteristics.

[0051] In this embodiment, a water vapor absorption structure 160 is provided in the encapsulation barrier layer 130 region, so that when the water vapor detection structure 150 detects water vapor intrusion, water vapor not absorbed by the water vapor detection structure 150 can also be absorbed by the water vapor absorption structure 160 to prevent water vapor from further invading the display area 101.

[0052] Specifically, at least one notch 161 is provided on the water vapor absorption structure 160 , and the first detection portion 151 is disposed in the notch 161 ; in the orthographic projection of the substrate 110 , the water vapor absorption structure 160 and the first detection portion 151 do not overlap.

[0053] In this embodiment, the water vapor absorption structure 160 is disconnected from the water vapor detection structure 150 to prevent the water vapor absorption structure 160 from interfering with the water vapor detection structure 150. The water vapor absorption structure 160 in this embodiment is disposed between the first blocking dam 131 and the second blocking dam 132. When there are multiple first detection portions 151, the water vapor absorption structure 160 is provided with multiple notches 161, and each notch 161 is provided with a first detection portion 151.

[0054] Among them, considering that when the insulating hydrogel material and the conductive hydrogel material are close to each other, especially after the conductive hydrogel material swells, it is easy to directly contact with the water vapor absorption structure 160, and after the water vapor absorption structure 160 absorbs water vapor, it will also affect the accuracy of the water vapor detection structure 150 in detecting the water vapor intrusion. Therefore, the width of the notch 161 is greater than the width of the first detection part 151, and the first detection part 151 and the water vapor absorption structure 160 are at least 5um apart.

[0055] Specifically, the first extension part 162 and the second extension part 163 are further provided at both ends of the water vapor absorption structure 160, the first extension part 162 extends toward the first blocking dam 131 and partially covers the top surface of the first blocking dam 131; the second extension part 163 extends toward the second blocking dam 132 and partially covers the top surface of the second blocking dam 132; in the orthographic projection of the substrate 110, the first extension part 162 and the second extension part 163 do not overlap with the second detection part 152. The thickness of the first extension part 162 and the second extension part 163 is between 1um and 1.5um.

[0056] In this embodiment, the second barrier dam 132 is taken as an example to be described as the outermost barrier dam, that is, the first barrier dam 131 is arranged on the side of the second barrier dam 132 close to the display area 101, and the second detection part 152 is arranged on the second barrier dam 132 on the side of the second extension part 163 away from the display area 101. The second extension part 163 can cover the area of ​​30% to 50% of the top width of the second barrier dam 132, and does not exceed the second detection part 152, that is, the second detection part 152 is arranged on the outer side relative to the second extension part 163, mainly considering that the organic encapsulation layer 142 is no longer arranged on the outer side of the second barrier dam 132, and only the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141 and the second inorganic encapsulation layer 143 are arranged as the encapsulation layer 140, which is the first barrier of the encapsulation, and the water vapor absorption structure 160 may not be arranged to ensure the integrity of the encapsulation to the greatest extent. The reason for setting the second detection unit 152 on the second barrier dam 132 is that when the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141 and the second inorganic encapsulation layer 143 outside the second barrier dam 132 fail, water vapor enters, and the second detection unit 152 can detect it first, which is the earliest path that can detect water vapor entering. At the same time, due to the step difference of the film layer, the position above the second barrier dam 132 is also the position where cracks or water vapor may invade.

[0057] It is worth mentioning that the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141 and the organic encapsulation layer 142 exist in the area between the first blocking dam 131 and the second blocking dam 132, as well as above the first blocking dam 131. Since there may be certain film layer non-conformity or defects at the interface between the inorganic film layer and the organic film layer, in this embodiment, an insulating hydrogel material is also provided between the first inorganic encapsulation layer 141 and the organic encapsulation layer 142, which can effectively fill the gaps or micropores between the film layer interfaces when the two layers are formed, and when the display panel 100 is deformed, the stress between the encapsulation layers 140 can be dispersed, and the protective film layers will not be broken. In addition, since the insulating hydrogel also has good water absorption, when water vapor invades along the film layer interface or crack between the encapsulation layers 140, it is absorbed by the water vapor absorption structure 160, and due to the extremely small swelling, the appearance of the water vapor structure will not change significantly. At the same time, with an extra film layer, when water vapor enters, its path will be branched. That is, after the water vapor entering from the periphery encounters the water vapor absorption structure 160, part of it will be absorbed, and part of it will be branched along the up and down directions of the interface between the organic encapsulation layer 142 and the water vapor absorption structure 160, which can effectively increase the water vapor path.

[0058] Based on the above structure, the detection process of this embodiment may include performing water vapor detection according to the set first detection unit 151 and / or the second detection unit 152, extracting and comparing according to the real-time resistance or capacitance detection situation, so as to judge the water vapor absorption situation, and then reversely inferring the current degree of water vapor entry, and at the same time determining the path where the water vapor already exists according to the detection situation at different positions, and feeding back the results and degree to the in-plane drive system, and adjusting the drive current or regional chromaticity and other correction operations according to the situation. The above is the overall process. In fact, according to the position of the test point, the intrusion situation at the outermost periphery should be detected first. When it is determined that there is water vapor, the detection and opening should be carried out inside, and so on, so as to avoid opening the detection system at the same time and causing waste. The detection and correction are also adjusted based on the overall results of multiple test points.

[0059] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the display device of the present application, see Figure 7 As shown, the present application further discloses a display device, wherein the display device 200 includes a driving circuit 210 and a display panel 100 in any one of the above embodiments, wherein the driving circuit is used to drive the display panel 100 to display.

[0060] This proposal proposes a structure for flexible display packaging detection, that is, multiple water vapor detection structures 150 are set in the packaging area of ​​the non-display area 102. The water vapor detection structure 150 is made of a conductive hydrogel material. The conductive hydrogel material has conductive properties. After absorbing water, the volume will swell, and its conductivity will change accordingly. Since the conductivity change is very sensitive, it can be detected with extremely high accuracy. According to the detection of the detection and feedback circuit, the water vapor intrusion at different positions can be judged. At the same time, an insulating hydrogel material with a very small swelling rate is also set in the above-mentioned packaging area as a water vapor absorption structure 160, which can absorb water vapor and disperse the water vapor entry path, thereby improving the display effect or extending the service life of the display. Relatively speaking, with hydrogel material as the main body, conductive hydrogel and insulating hydrogel material are made separately to realize the process of water vapor detection structure 150 and water vapor absorption structure 160. The self-healing ability of hydrogel is used, especially in flexible display devices, and its functionality can be guaranteed not to be affected by complete folding, and the scope of use is wider, which is conducive to improving the quality of display devices.

[0061] It should be noted that the inventive concept of the present application can form a large number of embodiments, but the length of the application document is limited and it is impossible to list them one by one. Therefore, under the premise of no conflict, the embodiments or technical features described above can be arbitrarily combined to form new embodiments. After the embodiments or technical features are combined, the original technical effects will be enhanced.

[0062] The above content is a further detailed description of the present application in combination with specific optional implementation methods, and it cannot be determined that the specific implementation of the present application is limited to these descriptions. For ordinary technicians in the technical field to which the present application belongs, several simple deductions or substitutions can be made without departing from the concept of the present application, which should be deemed to fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A display panel, comprising a display area and a non-display area, characterized in that: The display panel comprises: substrate; A light-emitting unit layer, disposed on the substrate and located in the display area; An encapsulation barrier layer is disposed around the light-emitting unit layer and is located in the non-display area; an encapsulation layer, which covers the light-emitting unit layer and partially extends onto the encapsulation barrier layer; and A water vapor detection structure is arranged in the encapsulation barrier layer, the water vapor detection structure is formed by a conductive hydrogel material, and the water vapor detection structure is used to determine whether there is water vapor intrusion according to the change of resistance or capacitance after the water vapor detection structure absorbs water vapor; The encapsulation layer includes a first inorganic encapsulation layer, an organic encapsulation layer, and a second inorganic encapsulation layer, wherein the first inorganic encapsulation layer is arranged on the light-emitting unit layer, extends from the display area to the non-display area, and covers the encapsulation barrier layer; the organic encapsulation layer covers the light-emitting unit layer and is blocked by the encapsulation barrier layer; the second inorganic encapsulation layer is arranged on the organic encapsulation layer, extends from the display area to the non-display area, and covers the encapsulation barrier layer; the water vapor detection structure is arranged between the first inorganic encapsulation layer and the organic encapsulation layer; The encapsulation barrier layer includes a first barrier dam and a second barrier dam, the organic encapsulation layer is arranged to cover the first barrier dam, and on the orthographic projection of the substrate, the organic encapsulation layer does not overlap or partially overlaps with the second barrier dam; the water vapor detection structure includes a first detection portion, which is arranged between the first barrier dam and the second barrier dam; the water vapor detection structure also includes a second detection portion, which is arranged on the first barrier dam and the second barrier dam; In a direction surrounding the light-emitting unit layer, a plurality of first detection parts are arranged at intervals, and a plurality of second detection parts are arranged at intervals; Wherein, the number of the first detection parts and the second detection parts disposed around the display panel gradually decreases in the direction approaching the display area from the edge of the non-display area; The display panel also includes a water vapor absorption structure, which is formed of an insulating hydrogel material and is arranged between the first blocking dam and the second blocking dam; and the water vapor absorption structure is arranged on the first inorganic encapsulation layer and under the organic encapsulation layer.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least one notch is arranged on the water vapor absorption structure, and the first detection part is arranged in the notch; in the orthographic projection of the substrate, the water vapor absorption structure and the first detection part do not overlap.

3. The display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that: The width of the notch is greater than the width of the first detection portion, and the first detection portion and the water vapor absorption structure are spaced at least 5 um apart.

4. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two ends of the water vapor absorption structure are further provided with a first extension portion and a second extension portion, wherein the first extension portion extends toward the first barrier dam and partially covers the top surface of the first barrier dam; The second extension portion extends toward the second barrier dam and partially covers the top surface of the second barrier dam; On the orthographic projection of the substrate, the first extension portion and the second extension portion do not overlap with the second detection portion, respectively.

5. The display panel according to claim 4, characterized in that: The thickness of the first extension portion and the second extension portion is between 1um and 1.5um; the first blocking dam is arranged on a side of the second blocking dam close to the display area, and the second detection portion is arranged on the second blocking dam on a side of the second extension portion away from the display area.

6. A display device, characterized in that: It comprises a driving circuit and the display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the driving circuit is used to drive the display panel to display.

Images