Display panel

Abstract

The invention discloses a display panel which comprises a sub-pixel, and the sub-pixel comprises a switch element, a first electrode, a transparent electrode and a reflection electrode. The switch element and the first electrode are arranged in the reflection area, and the first electrode is electrically connected with the drain electrode of the switch element. The transparent electrode is arranged on the first electrode and is arranged in the reflection area and the light-transmitting area, and the transparent electrode is electrically connected with the first electrode. The transparent electrode has a first length in a first direction and a second length in a second direction. The reflection electrode is arranged on the transparent electrode and in the reflection area, and the reflection electrode is electrically connected with the transparent electrode. The reflective electrode has a third length in the first direction and a fourth length in the second direction, and the third length is greater than the first length and the fourth length is greater than the second length. The opening of the reflecting electrode corresponds to the light-transmitting area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a display panel, and in particular to a semi-transmissive and semi-reflective display panel. Background Art

[0002] Among different types of display panels, semi-transmissive and semi-reflective display panels have the advantage of low power consumption because they use ambient light as part of the light source to achieve the display effect. Currently, many electronic products such as handwriting tablets, electronic papers, tablet PCs, and notebook computers use semi-transmissive and semi-reflective display panels. However, how to improve the display quality of semi-transmissive and semi-reflective display panels is one of the purposes of the present invention. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a display panel to solve the technical problem of how to improve the display quality of a semi-transmissive and semi-reflective display panel.

[0004] To solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a display panel, which includes a substrate and a sub-pixel. The sub-pixel is arranged on the substrate, the sub-pixel includes a reflective area and a light-transmitting area, wherein the light-transmitting area is arranged in the reflective area, and the sub-pixel also includes a switching element, a first electrode, a transparent electrode and a reflective electrode. The switching element is arranged in the reflective area. The first electrode is arranged in the reflective area and is electrically connected to a drain of the switching element. The transparent electrode is arranged on the first electrode and arranged in the reflective area and the light-transmitting area, and the transparent electrode is electrically connected to the first electrode, wherein the transparent electrode has a first length in a first direction and a second length in a second direction, and the first direction and the second direction are different. The reflective electrode is arranged on the transparent electrode and arranged in the reflective area, and the reflective electrode is electrically connected to the transparent electrode. The reflective electrode has a third length in the first direction and a fourth length in the second direction, and the third length is greater than the first length and the fourth length is greater than the second length. The reflective electrode includes an opening, and the opening corresponds to the light-transmitting area of ​​the sub-pixel.

[0005] In the display panel of the present invention, the size of the reflective electrode can be larger than that of the transparent electrode, and at least part of the edge of the transparent electrode can be covered by the reflective electrode, which can reduce the phenomenon that silver of the reflective electrode will remain on the edge of the transparent electrode, thereby improving the picture quality of the display panel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a pixel structure of a display panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0007] Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0008] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a pixel structure of a display panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Explanation of the reference numerals: 100 - substrate; 1020, 1022, 1024 - part; 202, 206, 209, 216 - conductive layer; 204 - gate insulating layer; 208, 210, 212 - insulating layer; 2091, 2093 - electrodes; 214 - transparent conductive layer; CE - second electrode; CH - semiconductor layer; CL - common signal line; CO - contact hole; D - drain; DL1, DL2 - data line; DR1, DR2, DR3 - direction; FE - first electrode; G - gate; GL1, GL2 - scanning line; L11, L12, L21, L22, L3, L4 - length; OP, OG - opening; R1 - reflective area; R2 - light-transmitting area; RE - reflective electrode; S - source; SP - sub-pixel; SW - switching element; TE - transparent electrode; W1, W2, W3 - width. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] In order to enable those skilled in the art to further understand the present invention, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are listed below, and the components and the effects to be achieved of the present invention are described in detail with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the drawings are simplified schematic diagrams, and therefore, only the components and combination relationships related to the present invention are shown to provide a clearer description of the basic architecture or implementation method of the present invention, while the actual components and layout may be more complex. In addition, for the convenience of explanation, the components shown in the drawings of the present invention are not drawn in proportion to the actual number, shape, and size, and the detailed proportions can be adjusted according to the design requirements.

[0012] The following figures mark a direction DR1, a direction DR2 and a direction DR3. Direction DR3 can be a normal direction or a top view direction, such as Figure 2 , the direction DR3 may be perpendicular to an upper surface of a substrate 100. Figure 1 , direction DR1 and direction DR2 may be horizontal directions and may be perpendicular to direction DR3, direction DR1 and direction DR2 are different, for example, direction DR1 may be perpendicular to direction DR2. The following figures may describe the spatial relationship of the structure according to direction DR1, direction DR2 and direction DR3.

[0013] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , Figure 1is a schematic top view of a pixel structure of a display panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display panel of a first embodiment of the present invention. The display panel of this embodiment takes a semi-transmissive and semi-reflective liquid crystal panel as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Figure 1 As shown, the display panel 10 includes a substrate 100, a plurality of scan lines (such as scan lines GL1 and scan lines GL2) and a plurality of data lines (such as data lines DL1 and data lines DL2), and the scan lines and the data lines are arranged on the substrate 100. The substrate 100 may include a hard substrate such as a glass substrate, a plastic substrate, a quartz substrate or a sapphire substrate, but is not limited thereto. The substrate 100 may also include a flexible substrate such as a polyimide (PI) substrate or a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate, but is not limited thereto.

[0014] Scan lines GL1 and GL2 are arranged in direction DR2 and extend along direction DR1, and data lines DL1 and DL2 are arranged in direction DR1 and extend along direction DR2. Scan lines and data lines may intersect to form at least one sub-pixel SP, and the display panel 10 includes at least one sub-pixel SP disposed on the substrate 100.

[0015] In some embodiments (such as Figure 1 ), the sub-pixel SP includes a reflective region R1 and a light-transmitting region R2, wherein the light-transmitting region R2 may be disposed in the reflective region R1. Specifically, the reflective region R1 and the light-transmitting region R2 do not overlap, and the light-transmitting region R2 may be surrounded by the reflective region R1. In the present invention, a material capable of reflecting light (such as a metal material) is disposed in the reflective region R1, and a material capable of blocking light is not disposed in the light-transmitting region R2, but a transparent material (such as a transparent conductive material) may be disposed in the light-transmitting region R2.

[0016] The sub-pixel SP further includes a switch element SW, and the switch element SW is disposed on the substrate 100 and disposed in the reflective region R1 of the sub-pixel SP. The switch element may include a thin film transistor, and the thin film transistor may be, for example, a bottom-gate thin film transistor, but not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the thin film transistor may also be a top-gate thin film transistor. In addition, the thin film transistor may be a low temperature polysilicon (LTPS) thin film transistor, an indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) thin film transistor, or an amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin film transistor, but not limited thereto.

[0017] The thin film transistor includes a gate G, a source S, a drain D and a semiconductor layer CH. The scan line GL1 is electrically connected to the gate G of the switch element SW, and a switch signal for controlling the thin film transistor can be provided to the gate G of the switch element SW through the scan line GL1, thereby controlling the display image to be updated. The data line DL1 is electrically connected to the source S of the switch element SW, and a grayscale signal can be provided to the source S of the switch element SW through the data line DL1.

[0018] The sub-pixel SP includes a first electrode FE, and the first electrode FE is disposed in the reflective region R1 of the sub-pixel SP. Figure 1 The first electrode FE may be disposed at one side of the switching element SW, and the first electrode FE is electrically connected to the drain D of the switching element SW.

[0019] In addition, the first electrode FE may include a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, and the switch element SW may be disposed on the first side of the first electrode FE (eg, Figure 1 The light-transmitting region R2 of the sub-pixel SP may be disposed on the second side of the first electrode FE (eg, Figure 1 The present invention is preferably located above the first electrode FE, but is not limited thereto.

[0020] The sub-pixel SP includes a second electrode CE, and the second electrode CE is disposed between the first electrode FE and the substrate 100. The display panel 10 includes a common signal line CL, which extends along a direction DR1 and is disposed between the scan line GL1 and the scan line GL2 in a direction DR2. The second electrode CE is electrically connected to the common signal line CL, and the common signal line CL can provide a common voltage to the second electrode CE.

[0021] The sub-pixel SP includes a transparent electrode TE (represented by a thick black line), which is disposed on the first electrode FE and disposed in the reflective region R1 and the light-transmitting region R2 of the sub-pixel SP. The transparent electrode TE is electrically connected to the first electrode FE. For example, the transparent electrode TE can be electrically connected to the first electrode FE through a contact hole CO. The transparent electrode TE has a length L11 in the direction DR1 and a length L21 in the direction DR2. For example, one side (short side) of the transparent electrode TE has a length L11 in the direction DR1, and the other side (long side) of the transparent electrode TE has a length L21 in the direction DR2. The length L21 may be greater than the length L11, but is not limited thereto. The area of ​​the transparent electrode TE may be greater than the area of ​​the first electrode FE, but is not limited thereto.

[0022] The sub-pixel SP includes a reflective electrode RE (represented by dots) disposed on the transparent electrode TE, and the reflective electrode RE is electrically connected to the transparent electrode TE. For example, the reflective electrode RE may partially overlap with the transparent electrode TE, and the reflective electrode RE may be in direct contact with the transparent electrode TE. The reflective electrode RE, the transparent electrode TE, and the first electrode FE are electrically connected to each other and are electrically connected together to the drain electrode D of the switching element SW, so the reflective electrode RE, the transparent electrode TE, and the first electrode FE can be used together as a pixel electrode.

[0023] The reflective electrode RE has a length L12 in the direction DR1 and a length L22 in the direction DR2. For example, one side (short side) of the reflective electrode RE has a length L12 in the direction DR1, and the other side (long side) of the reflective electrode RE has a length L22 in the direction DR2. The length L22 may be greater than the length L12, but is not limited thereto.

[0024] In this embodiment, the length L12 of the reflective electrode RE is greater than the length L11 of the transparent electrode TE, and the length L22 of the reflective electrode RE is greater than the length L21 of the transparent electrode TE. The area of ​​the reflective electrode RE (the area surrounded by four sides, including the area of ​​the opening) is greater than the area of ​​the transparent electrode TE. Figure 1 , the four edges of the transparent electrode TE may be covered by the reflective electrode RE. In more detail, as Figure 2 , the side surfaces of the edges of the transparent electrode TE may also be covered by the reflective electrode RE.

[0025] When the edge of the transparent electrode TE and the edge of the reflective electrode RE are aligned in the direction DR3 (such as the length of the reflective electrode RE is equal to the length of the transparent electrode TE), or the edge of the reflective electrode RE is located on the inner side of the edge of the transparent electrode TE (the length of the reflective electrode RE is less than the length of the transparent electrode TE), silver of the reflective electrode RE will remain on the edge of the transparent electrode TE, resulting in poor picture quality of the display panel 10.

[0026] However, in this embodiment, the lengths of the four sides of the reflective electrode RE are greater than the lengths of the four sides of the transparent electrode TE, and the four edges of the transparent electrode TE can be covered by the reflective electrode RE, which can reduce the phenomenon that silver of the reflective electrode RE remains on the edges of the transparent electrode TE, thereby improving the picture quality of the display panel 10.

[0027] In this embodiment, the reflective electrode RE may include an opening OP, and the position of the opening OP corresponds to the light-transmitting region R2 of the sub-pixel SP. Figure 1The opening OP may be disposed between the scanning line GL2 and the second electrode CE in the direction DR2, and may be disposed between the data line DL1 and the data line DL2 in the direction DR1, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present embodiment, the transparent electrode TE may extend into the light-transmitting region R2 of the sub-pixel SP, while the reflective electrode RE is only disposed in the reflective region R1 of the sub-pixel SP and does not extend into the light-transmitting region R2 of the sub-pixel SP. Therefore, Figure 2 , a portion of the transparent electrode TE and the opening OP of the reflective electrode RE overlap in the direction DR3 , and the opening OP of the reflective electrode RE exposes a portion of the transparent electrode TE.

[0028] In the light-transmitting region R2 of the sub-pixel SP, no opaque element is disposed therein, so that light from the backlight source can pass through the light-transmitting region R2 to increase the brightness of the display panel 10. In addition, ambient light can be reflected by the reflective electrode RE or other metal elements in the reflective region R1 to increase the brightness of the display panel 10. Therefore, the image quality of the display panel 10 can be improved.

[0029] On the other hand, Figure 2 The display panel 10 includes a conductive layer 202, a gate insulating layer 204, a conductive layer 206, an insulating layer 208, a conductive layer 209, an insulating layer 210, an insulating layer 212, a transparent conductive layer 214 and a conductive layer 216 disposed on the substrate 100. In some embodiments, the display panel 10 may not include the conductive layer 209.

[0030] The conductive layer 202 may include Figure 1 The gate insulating layer 204 is disposed on the conductive layer 202. The conductive layer 206 and the semiconductor layer CH are disposed on the gate insulating layer 204. The conductive layer 206 (shown by oblique lines) may include Figure 1 The data line DL1, the data line DL2, the source S and the drain D of the switch element SW and the first electrode FE, but not limited thereto.

[0031] The insulating layer 208, the conductive layer 209, the insulating layer 210 and the insulating layer 212 are sequentially disposed on the conductive layer 206 and / or the gate insulating layer 204. The gate insulating layer 204, the insulating layer 208, the insulating layer 210 and the insulating layer 212 may include inorganic or organic insulating materials, but are not limited thereto. The conductive layer 209 may be disposed between the insulating layer 208 and the insulating layer 210, and the conductive layer 209 may include an electrode 2091 and an electrode 2093, but are not limited thereto. The electrode 2091 may be disposed on the switching element SW and may overlap with the semiconductor layer CH. The electrode 2093 may be disposed on the first electrode FE and may receive a common voltage.

[0032] In the display panel 10 of the present invention, at least one insulating layer is disposed between the first electrode FE and the transparent electrode TE, a contact hole CO is disposed in the at least one insulating layer, and the transparent electrode TE is electrically connected to the first electrode FE through the contact hole CO. Figure 2 , the insulating layers 208, 210 and 212 are disposed between the first electrode FE and the transparent electrode TE, and the contact hole CO may be disposed in the insulating layers 208, 210 and 212. The contact hole CO passes through the insulating layers 208, 210 and 212 and exposes a portion of the first electrode FE.

[0033] The transparent conductive layer 214 is disposed on the insulating layer 212 and may include a transparent electrode TE, but is not limited thereto. Figure 2 The transparent electrode TE may extend into the contact hole CO and may contact the first electrode FE, so that the transparent electrode TE is electrically connected to the first electrode FE. The transparent conductive layer 214 may include a transparent conductive material, such as indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO) or aluminum zinc oxide (AZO), but is not limited thereto.

[0034] The conductive layer 216 is disposed on the transparent conductive layer 214 and may include a reflective electrode RE. Figure 2 , the reflective electrode RE is disposed on the transparent electrode TE and can be in direct contact with the transparent electrode TE, and the reflective electrode RE can extend into the contact hole CO. The conductive layer 202, the conductive layer 206 and the conductive layer 209 may include a single metal layer such as aluminum, copper, titanium, tungsten, or a composite metal layer such as molybdenum / aluminum / molybdenum, titanium / aluminum / titanium, titanium / copper / titanium, titanium / copper, etc., but are not limited thereto. The conductive layer 216 may include a suitable reflective metal material such as silver, and the conductive layer 216 may also include a single metal layer or a composite metal layer, but are not limited thereto.

[0035] The display panel of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. Other embodiments of the present invention will be further disclosed below. However, in order to simplify the description and highlight the differences between the embodiments, the same reference numerals are used below to mark the same components, and the repeated parts will not be described in detail.

[0036] Please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 , Figure 3 is a schematic top view of a pixel structure of a display panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the patterns of the transparent electrode TE and the reflective electrode RE of this embodiment are different from those of the first embodiment.

[0037] In the present embodiment, the transparent electrode TE includes a portion 1020, a portion 1022, and a portion 1024, the portion 1022 is disposed between the portion 1020 and the portion 1024, one end of the portion 1022 may be connected to the portion 1020, and the other end of the portion 1022 may be connected to the portion 1024. A portion of the portion 1022 may be disposed in the light-transmitting region R2, and another portion of the portion 1022 may be disposed in the reflective region R1. The portion 1024 may be electrically connected to the first electrode FE through the contact hole CO. The portion 1020 may have a width W1, the portion 1022 may have a width W2, and the portion 1024 may have a width W3. The width W1 may be greater than the width W3, and the width W3 may be greater than the width W2.

[0038] In this embodiment, the reflective electrode RE may not have an opening OP, a length L4 of a long side of the reflective electrode RE may be smaller than a length L22 of the reflective electrode RE in the first embodiment, and the reflective electrode RE only covers a portion 1020 of the transparent electrode TE, while another portion 1020 of the transparent electrode TE is exposed.

[0039] The short side of the reflective electrode RE in this embodiment may have a length L3 , and the length L3 of the reflective electrode RE may be greater than the width W3 and the width W2 of the transparent electrode TE, and the length L3 of the reflective electrode RE may be substantially the same as the width W1 of the transparent electrode TE, but is not limited thereto.

[0040] Since the length L3 of the reflective electrode RE can be greater than the width W3 and the width W2 of the transparent electrode TE, the edges of the portion 1022 and the portion 1024 of the transparent electrode TE can be covered by the reflective electrode RE. In addition, a portion of the edge of the portion 1020 of the transparent electrode TE can be covered by the reflective electrode RE. Through the above design, the phenomenon that silver of the reflective electrode RE remains on the edge of the transparent electrode TE can be reduced, thereby improving the picture quality of the display panel 10.

[0041] In the present embodiment, the display panel 10 may include an opening OG, and the light-transmitting region R2 may correspond to the position of the opening OG. Figure 3 The opening OG may be disposed between the reflective electrode RE and the scan line GL2 in the direction DR2, and may be disposed between the data line DL1 and the data line DL2 in the direction DR1, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0042] In summary, in the display panel of the present invention, the length or width of the reflective electrode can be greater than the length or width of the transparent electrode, and at least part of the edge of the transparent electrode can be covered by the reflective electrode, which can reduce the phenomenon that silver of the reflective electrode will remain on the edge of the transparent electrode, thereby improving the picture quality of the display panel.

[0043] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention may have various modifications and variations. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A display panel, characterized in that: include: a substrate; as well as A sub-pixel is disposed on the substrate, the sub-pixel comprises a reflective area and a light-transmitting area, wherein the light-transmitting area is disposed in the reflective area, and the sub-pixel further comprises: a switch element, disposed in the reflection area; a first electrode, disposed in the reflective region and electrically connected to a drain electrode of the switch element; a transparent electrode disposed on the first electrode and in the reflective area and the light-transmitting area, and the transparent electrode is electrically connected to the first electrode, wherein the transparent electrode has a first length in a first direction and a second length in a second direction, and the first direction and the second direction are different; and a reflective electrode, disposed on the transparent electrode and in the reflective area, the reflective electrode being electrically connected to the transparent electrode, wherein the reflective electrode has a third length in the first direction and a fourth length in the second direction, the third length is greater than the first length and the fourth length is greater than the second length, The reflective electrode includes an opening, and the opening corresponds to the light-transmitting area of ​​the sub-pixel.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The opening of the reflective electrode exposes a portion of the transparent electrode.

3. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The reflective electrode is in direct contact with the transparent electrode.

4. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: It also includes at least one insulating layer disposed between the first electrode and the transparent electrode, wherein a contact hole is disposed in the at least one insulating layer, and the transparent electrode is electrically connected to the first electrode through the contact hole.

5. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The area of ​​the reflective electrode is larger than that of the transparent electrode.

6. The display panel according to claim 5, wherein: An area of ​​the transparent electrode is larger than an area of ​​the first electrode.

7. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The first electrode includes a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, the switching element is arranged on the first side of the first electrode, and the light-transmitting area of ​​the sub-pixel is arranged on the second side of the first electrode.

8. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The sub-pixel further includes a second electrode, which is disposed between the first electrode and the substrate, and is electrically connected to a common signal line.

9. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The material of the reflective electrode includes silver.

10. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The transparent electrode includes a transparent conductive material.

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