Display panel, preparation method thereof and display device

Abstract

The invention provides a display panel, a preparation method thereof and a display device. The display panel includes a substrate and at least one lens structure. The substrate comprises a first display area, and an electric field is arranged in the first display area; the at least one lens structure is located on one side of the substrate and arranged in the electric field. According to the display panel, the display brightness difference between the bending area and the plane area of the display panel is reduced, and the overall display uniformity is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of display technology, and in particular to a display panel, its manufacturing method, and a display device. Background Technology

[0002] Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are active-matrix display devices that offer advantages such as self-illumination, wide viewing angle, high contrast, low power consumption, extremely high response speed, thinness, flexibility, and low cost.

[0003] With the continuous development of display technology, curved screens are being used more and more widely, and the corresponding requirements for curved screens are also getting higher and higher. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a display panel to solve the problem of uneven brightness in existing OLED display panels.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, a first aspect of the present invention provides a display panel, the display panel comprising:

[0006] The substrate includes a first display area, wherein an electric field is provided within the first display area;

[0007] At least one lens structure is located on one side of the substrate and is disposed in the electric field.

[0008] Furthermore, the lens structure includes an electrolyte layer and an insulating liquid layer, wherein the electrolyte layer at least partially surrounds the insulating liquid layer; the refractive index of the electrolyte layer is less than the refractive index of the insulating liquid layer, and the surface of the insulating liquid layer forms an angle θ with the plane of the substrate at the same point on the side closer to the insulating liquid layer; the angle θ is positively correlated with the intensity of the electric field; wherein θ is less than 90°;

[0009] The lens structure is made of electroactive materials;

[0010] Preferably, the electroactive material includes an electrowetting material;

[0011] Preferably, the electrolyte layer is made of a conductive aqueous solution, and the insulating liquid layer is made of silicone oil.

[0012] Furthermore, the display panel also includes:

[0013] A hydrophobic layer is disposed on the side of the lens structure close to the substrate and in contact with the insulating liquid layer; the orthographic projection of the lens structure on the substrate is within the orthographic projection range of the hydrophobic layer on the substrate;

[0014] Preferably, the material of the hydrophobic layer includes at least one of fluorocarbon materials and silicon materials;

[0015] Preferably, the fluorocarbon material includes polytetrafluoroethylene;

[0016] Preferably, the silicon type includes silicon nitride.

[0017] Further, the electric field includes at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode; the first electrode is disposed on the side of the hydrophobic layer near the substrate, and the hydrophobic layer at least covers a portion of the surface of the first electrode facing away from the substrate; the second electrode is disposed on the side of the hydrophobic layer facing away from the substrate and is in contact with the electrolyte layer; wherein the first electrode and the second electrode have opposite polarities.

[0018] Furthermore, the display panel also includes:

[0019] A blocking portion is disposed on the side of the hydrophobic layer opposite to the substrate and at least partially surrounds the lens structure; the blocking portion is located within the first display area;

[0020] Preferably, in the direction perpendicular to the substrate, the distance from the surface of the blocking portion facing away from the substrate to the substrate is greater than or equal to the distance from the surface of the lens structure facing away from the substrate to the substrate;

[0021] Preferably, the material of the blocking portion includes at least one of polyimide and epoxy resin;

[0022] Preferably, the first display area includes a first surface, which includes at least one of an arc surface and an inclined surface.

[0023] Furthermore, the display panel also includes:

[0024] A light-emitting layer is disposed on the side of the first electrode near the substrate, and the orthographic projection of the first display area on the substrate is located within the orthographic projection range of the light-emitting layer on the substrate;

[0025] An encapsulation layer is disposed on the side of the lens structure opposite to the substrate; the orthographic projection of the first display area on the substrate is located within the orthographic projection range of the encapsulation layer on the substrate;

[0026] Preferably, the encapsulation layer covers the surface of the lens structure opposite to the substrate, and the encapsulation layer covers the surface of the blocking portion opposite to the substrate.

[0027] Furthermore, the display panel also includes:

[0028] A first planarization layer is disposed on the side of the light-emitting layer near the first electrode; the orthographic projection of the first display area on the substrate is located within the orthographic projection range of the first planarization layer on the substrate, and the orthographic projection of the first planarization layer on the substrate is located within the orthographic projection range of the light-emitting layer on the substrate;

[0029] A second planarization layer is located within the first display area and is disposed on the side of the first planarization layer opposite to the substrate, and the second planarization layer at least partially surrounds the first electrode.

[0030] Preferably, in the direction perpendicular to the substrate, the thickness of the second planarization layer is equal to the thickness of the first electrode;

[0031] Preferably, the orthographic projection of the first planarization layer on the substrate overlaps with the orthographic projection of the light-emitting layer on the substrate;

[0032] Preferably, the materials of both the first planarization layer and the second planarization layer include at least one of polyimide and acrylic resin.

[0033] A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a display panel, the method comprising:

[0034] A substrate is provided, the substrate including a first display area;

[0035] An electric field is laid within the first display area;

[0036] A lens structure is disposed on one side of the substrate, such that the lens structure is located in the electric field.

[0037] Furthermore, laying an electric field within the first display area includes:

[0038] A first electrode is formed by patterning on one side of the substrate, and the first electrode is located within the first display area;

[0039] A hydrophobic layer is coated on the side of the first electrode away from the substrate, and the hydrophobic layer at least covers a portion of the surface of the first electrode on the side away from the substrate.

[0040] A second electrode is formed by patterning on the side of the hydrophobic layer away from the substrate, and the second electrode is located within the first display area;

[0041] Preferably, the step of setting a lens structure on one side of the substrate, such that the lens structure is located in the electric field, includes:

[0042] The lens structure is disposed on the side of the hydrophobic layer away from the substrate; the orthogonal projection of the lens structure onto the substrate is located within the orthogonal projection range of the hydrophobic layer onto the substrate; the lens structure includes an electrolyte layer and an insulating liquid layer, the electrolyte layer being in contact with the second electrode;

[0043] Preferably, the provision of the lens structure on the side of the hydrophobic layer opposite to the substrate includes:

[0044] A barrier portion is formed by patterning on the side of the hydrophobic layer opposite to the substrate;

[0045] The lens structure is filled into the blocking portion such that the blocking portion at least partially surrounds the lens structure;

[0046] Preferably, after filling the lens structure into the blocking portion such that the blocking portion at least partially surrounds the lens structure, the method further includes:

[0047] An encapsulation layer is provided on the side of the lens structure facing away from the substrate, such that the encapsulation layer covers the surface of the lens structure facing away from the substrate, and the encapsulation layer also covers the surface of the blocking portion facing away from the substrate.

[0048] Preferably, before laying the electric field in the first display area, the method further includes:

[0049] A light-emitting layer is disposed on one side of the substrate, and the orthographic projection of the first display area on the substrate is located within the orthographic projection range of the light-emitting layer on the substrate;

[0050] Preferably, the first electrode is formed by patterning on one side of the substrate, comprising:

[0051] A first planarization layer is coated on the side of the light-emitting layer opposite to the substrate, and the orthographic projection of the first display area on the substrate is located within the orthographic projection range of the first planarization layer on the substrate;

[0052] The first electrode is formed by patterning on the side of the first planar layer opposite to the substrate;

[0053] Preferably, after the first electrode is formed by patterning on the side of the first planarization layer opposite to the substrate, the method further includes:

[0054] A second planarization layer is coated on the side of the first planarization layer opposite to the substrate, and the second planarization layer at least partially surrounds the first electrode;

[0055] Preferably, the thickness of the second planarization layer is equal to the thickness of the first electrode in the direction perpendicular to the substrate.

[0056] A third aspect of the present invention provides a display device comprising a display panel as described above, and / or a display panel manufactured by the preparation method described above.

[0057] This invention sets an electric field in the bending area of ​​the display panel and places a lens structure in the electric field. When light passes through the bending area, the electric field controls the shape of the lens structure to converge the light, thereby improving the light extraction efficiency, reducing the difference in display brightness between the bending area and the flat area of ​​the screen, and improving the uniformity of the overall display. Attached Figure Description

[0058] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0059] Figure 1 This is a top view of the display panel in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0060] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the display panel in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0061] Figure 3(a) is a schematic diagram of the lens structure in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0062] Figure 3(b) is a schematic diagram of the lens structure in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0063] Figures 4-8 A cross-sectional view of a display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0064] Figure 9 This is a top view of the lens structure in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0065] Figure 10 This is a top view of the display panel in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0066] Figure 11 This is a flowchart of a method for preparing a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0067] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrates preferred embodiments of the present invention, demonstrating its implementability. These embodiments provide a complete overview of the invention for those skilled in the art, making its technical content clearer and easier to understand. The present invention can be embodied in many different forms of embodiments, and the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments mentioned herein.

[0068] In the accompanying drawings, components with the same structure are indicated by the same numerical designation, and components with similar structures or functions are indicated by similar numerical designations. The dimensions and thicknesses of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrary, and the present invention does not limit the dimensions and thicknesses of each component. To make the illustrations clearer, the thickness of components is appropriately exaggerated in some places in the drawings.

[0069] Furthermore, the following descriptions of the embodiments of the invention are made with reference to the accompanying illustrations, illustrating specific embodiments in which the invention can be implemented. Directional terms used in this invention, such as "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," and "side," are merely directional references to the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the use of directional terms is for better and clearer explanation and understanding of the invention, and does not indicate or imply that the referred device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation; therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0070] When a component is described as being "on" another component, the component may be placed directly on the other component; alternatively, there may be an intermediate component on which the component is placed, and the intermediate component is placed on the other component. When a component is described as being "installed to" or "connected to" another component, both can be understood as being directly "installed" or "connected" to, or as being indirectly "installed to" or "connected to" another component via an intermediate component.

[0071] With advancements in display technology and increasing user demands, the application of flexible curved screens is gradually increasing. However, this type of display, composed of a flat area and a curved area, faces a technical challenge: uneven brightness. Specifically, under the same pixel driving signal, the brightness of the curved area differs from that of the central flat area. The root cause of this uneven brightness lies in the different optical paths of light in the curved and flat areas. Specifically, in the flat area, light exiting the light-emitting layer passes almost perpendicularly through multiple layers (such as the encapsulation layer, touch layer, polarizer, and cover plate) to reach the eye, resulting in a direct light path and relatively low energy loss. In the curved area, however, because these layers are also bent, their interfaces are no longer flat but curved. When the emitted light reaches these curved interfaces, the angle of incidence increases, leading to a larger angle of refraction and higher interface reflectivity. This results in two consequences: firstly, more light energy is reflected back by the interface, failing to escape effectively; secondly, the direction of the emitted light is deflected, preventing some light from effectively entering the eye. The combined effect of these two factors results in the effective light output brightness of the curved area being lower than that of the flat area, creating a phenomenon of uneven brightness.

[0072] Furthermore, this phenomenon becomes more pronounced in certain display scenarios. For example, in privacy display scenarios, the privacy function is typically achieved by setting a lens grating structure on the screen. This lens grating focuses the light within the normal viewing angle by precisely controlling the light emission angle, thus achieving privacy. When this structure is applied to curved areas, its physical shape bends, and the optical characteristics of the lens grating (such as optical focal length) also change. Therefore, in privacy display scenarios, the distorted grating, combined with the inherent brightness unevenness, makes the brightness difference between the curved area and the flat area potentially more pronounced than in normal displays (without privacy functions). Moreover, in 3D display scenarios, the 3D display function relies on lenticular lenses to precisely separate the images for the left and right eyes. In the curved areas of the screen, the bent lenses alter their optical beam-splitting characteristics, potentially causing increased crosstalk between the left and right eye images and a shift in the optimal viewing angle. To compensate for this optical distortion, the system may need to adjust the brightness of the pixels in the curved area, but this, in turn, exacerbates the brightness difference between this area and the flat area, severely affecting the user's viewing experience.

[0073] To address the aforementioned technical issues, the present invention provides a display panel comprising a substrate and at least one lens structure; the substrate includes a first display area, and an electric field is provided within the first display area; the lens structure is located on one side of the substrate and is disposed within the electric field.

[0074] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, Figure 1 This is a top view of the display panel in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 for Figure 1A cross-sectional view at AA'. In one embodiment of the present invention, the display panel 200 includes a substrate 10, which is divided into a light-emitting side and a backlight side. The substrate 10 on the light-emitting side further includes a first display area 11 and a second display area 12. The first display area 11 includes a first surface, and the second display area includes a second surface. The first and second surfaces are located on different planes. The first surface includes at least one of a curved surface and a sloped surface, and the second surface includes a plane. In this embodiment, the first display area 11 is the bent area of ​​the display panel 200 and is provided with an electric field therein. The second display area 12 is the portion away from the bent area of ​​the display panel 200, i.e., the central plane area. At least one lens structure 50 is provided on the light-emitting side of the substrate 10, and the lens structure 50 is located in the electric field. A lens structure 50 is provided in the bending area of ​​the display panel. When light is emitted from the backlight side to the light-emitting side and passes through the bending area, the lens structure 50 in this area changes its shape under the action of an electric field, enabling it to converge the light and improve the light emission efficiency. This reduces the difference in display brightness between the bending area and the flat area, and improves the uniformity of the overall display. In some embodiments, the display panel 200 can be a curved screen that bends to both sides along a first direction (X direction) and extends to a second direction (Y direction); or it can be a curved screen that bends to both sides along the second direction and extends to the first direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction intersect. This embodiment of the invention is described using a curved screen that bends to both sides along the first direction and extends to the second direction as an example, where the first direction (X direction) is perpendicular to the second direction (Y direction).

[0075] Continue to refer to Figure 2 In one embodiment of the present invention, the lens structure 50 includes an electrolyte layer 51 and an insulating liquid layer 52, wherein the electrolyte layer 51 at least partially surrounds the insulating liquid layer 52; the refractive index of the electrolyte layer 51 is less than the refractive index of the insulating liquid layer 52, and the side of the surface of the insulating liquid layer that is tangent at the same point forms an angle θ with the plane of the substrate, wherein the angle θ is positively correlated with the intensity of the electric field; wherein θ is less than 90°.

[0076] In this embodiment, the lens structure 50 can be made of an electroactive material such as an electrowetting material. Specifically, regarding the electrowetting material, the electrolyte layer 51 is made of a conductive aqueous solution, and the insulating liquid layer 52 can be made of silicone oil. The refractive index of the electrolyte layer 51 is less than that of the insulating liquid layer 52, meaning the refractive index of the conductive aqueous solution is less than that of the silicone oil. This means that when light passes from the silicone oil (a high-refractive-index medium) through the conductive aqueous solution (a low-refractive-index medium), the angle of refraction is greater than the angle of incidence. Furthermore, the surface of the insulating liquid layer 52 forms an angle θ with the plane of the substrate 10 at the same point on the side closest to the insulating liquid layer 52. θ is positively correlated with the applied electric field strength; that is, as the electric field increases, the insulating liquid layer 52 becomes more convex relative to the electrolyte layer 51 (the angle increases), forming a convex lens-like structure. In other words, as the electric field increases, the vertical distance between the highest point of the interface between the insulating liquid layer 52 and the electrolyte layer 51 and the substrate 10 gradually increases. Based on the above two points, when light is emitted from the backlight side to the light-emitting side, by enhancing the electric field within the first display area 11, the insulating liquid layer 52 can undergo a morphological change under the influence of the electric field, transforming into a convex lens-like structure. At this time, the light passing through the bending area passes from the high-refractive-index insulating liquid layer 52 through the low-refractive-index electrolyte layer 51, and the light path converges, improving the light extraction efficiency and thus reducing the brightness difference between the bending area and the planar area. Furthermore, the magnitude of the electric field can be adjusted according to the brightness difference between the bending area and the planar area, ensuring that the lens structure 50 sufficiently converges the light to compensate for this brightness difference, thereby improving overall display uniformity.

[0077] Continue to refer to Figure 2 In one embodiment of the present invention, the display panel 200 further includes a hydrophobic layer 30. The hydrophobic layer 30 is disposed on the side of the lens structure 50 near the substrate 10 and is in contact with the insulating liquid layer 52; the orthographic projection of the lens structure 50 on the substrate 10 is located within the orthographic projection range of the hydrophobic layer 30 on the substrate 10.

[0078] In this embodiment, the purpose of providing the hydrophobic layer 30 is to allow its interface properties to work in conjunction with the electric field to jointly regulate the morphology of the lens structure 50. Specifically, the hydrophobic layer 30 is deposited on one side of the substrate 10, and the hydrophobic layer is located within the first display area 11. The lens structure 50 is provided on the side of the hydrophobic layer 30 away from the substrate 10, that is, the lens structure 50, especially the insulating liquid layer 52, is adsorbed onto the surface of the hydrophobic layer 30, and the orthogonal projection range of the lens structure 50 on the substrate 10 is smaller than the orthogonal projection range of the hydrophobic layer 30 on the substrate 10, ensuring that the insulating liquid layer 52 can be effectively guided to form the desired morphology under the action of the electric field.

[0079] As shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b), when light rays emerge from the backlight side towards the light-emitting side and reach the lens structure 50 after passing through the bending area, the refractive index of the electrolyte layer 51 is less than that of the insulating liquid layer 52. Therefore, when the light rays pass through the electrolyte layer 51 from the insulating liquid layer 52, the angle of refraction is greater than the angle of incidence. For example, the angle of refraction β at point M is greater than the angle of incidence α. Furthermore, under the influence of an external electric field, ions in the electrolyte layer 51 in the lens structure 50 will accumulate near the interface of the hydrophobic layer 30. As the electric field strength increases, this ion aggregation effect becomes more significant, the hydrophilicity of the hydrophobic layer 30 surface becomes stronger, and its affinity with the electrolyte layer 51 becomes higher. This causes the electrolyte layer 51 to squeeze and replace the insulating liquid layer 52 at the interface. This process reduces the contact area between the insulating liquid layer 52 and the hydrophobic layer 30, confining it to a smaller area, thus forming a more convex shape relative to the electrolyte layer 51, similar to a convex lens with a shorter focal length, which is more conducive to converging light rays. Conversely, when the electric field weakens, the amount of ions accumulating on the surface of the hydrophobic layer 30 decreases, the hydrophilicity of the surface of the hydrophobic layer 30 weakens, its inherent hydrophobic properties are restored, the electrolyte layer 51 is displaced, and the contact area between the insulating liquid layer 52 and the hydrophobic layer 30 increases accordingly, making the protrusion shape smoother. Therefore, the side of the surface of the insulating liquid layer 52 closest to the insulating liquid layer 52 forms an angle θ with the plane of the substrate 10 at the same point. θ is positively correlated with the intensity of the electric field. For example, when the electric field increases, the angle θ between the side of the surface of the insulating liquid layer 52 closest to the insulating liquid layer 52 at point N and the plane of the substrate 10 also increases, but the angle θ is always less than 90°. Through this structure, the shape of the insulating liquid layer 52 in the lens structure 50 can be controlled by the electric field, thereby converging light and improving light extraction efficiency, thus reducing the brightness difference between the bending area and the central plane area of ​​the display panel. In some embodiments, the material of the hydrophobic layer 30 includes at least one of fluorocarbon materials and silicon materials. For example, the material of the hydrophobic layer 30 may include polytetrafluoroethylene, and the material of the hydrophobic layer 30 may also include silicon nitride.

[0080] Continue to refer to Figure 2 Figures 3(a) and 3(b) show that in one embodiment of the present invention, the electric field includes at least one first electrode 20 and at least one second electrode 40; the first electrode 20 is disposed on the side of the hydrophobic layer 30 close to the substrate 10, and the hydrophobic layer 30 at least covers a portion of the surface of the first electrode 20 facing away from the substrate 10; the second electrode 40 is disposed on the side of the hydrophobic layer 30 facing away from the substrate 10 and is in contact with the electrolyte layer 51; wherein the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 40 have opposite polarities.

[0081] In this embodiment, the electric field is achieved through a specific electrode layout. Specifically, the first electrode 20 is located above the light-emitting side of the substrate 10 and below the hydrophobic layer 30, and can be fabricated by full-surface deposition or through a metal patterning process. To ensure that the lens structure 50 is in an effective electric field, the second electrode 40 is disposed above the hydrophobic layer 30 and in contact with the electrolyte layer 51, so that the electrolyte layer 51 can conduct electricity and generate the necessary ions after energization. It should be noted that the directional terms such as "above" and "side" mentioned in the embodiments of the present invention do not limit the film layers to direct contact, so the arrangement of the second electrode 40 above the hydrophobic layer 30 is flexible. Since the purpose of the second electrode 40 is to ensure the conductivity of the electrolyte layer 51, its implementation position is diverse: in some embodiments, the second electrode 40 can be disposed at the bottom of the lens structure 50, that is, embedded in the electrolyte layer 51 near the lower end, while avoiding contact with the insulating liquid layer 52; in other embodiments, it can also be disposed on the side wall or top of the lens structure 50. In this embodiment of the present invention, the second electrode 40 being located at the bottom of the lens structure 50 is used as an example for explanation. In some embodiments, the first electrode 20 may be an anode and the second electrode 40 may be a cathode; alternatively, the first electrode 20 may be a cathode and the second electrode 40 may be an anode. In this embodiment of the invention, the example of the first electrode 20 being an anode and the second electrode 40 being a cathode will be described.

[0082] To establish an electrical path, both the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 40 need to be electrically connected to an external power supply structure. For example, the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 40 can be connected together to a flexible circuit board, which provides the required operating voltage. After the electrodes are connected to the voltage and an electric field is formed, anions migrate in the electrolyte layer 51, thereby changing the interfacial wetting characteristics between it and the underlying hydrophobic layer 30. Specifically, as the applied voltage increases, more anions are formed on the surface of the hydrophobic layer 30 from the electrolyte layer 51, thus increasing the hydrophilicity of the surface of the hydrophobic layer 30. This causes the hydrophilic electrolyte layer 51 to further compress the insulating liquid layer 52, reducing the contact area between the insulating liquid layer 52 and the hydrophobic layer 30, thereby forming a lens shape that is more convex than the electrolyte layer 51. This shape enhances the light-gathering ability. Conversely, when the voltage decreases, the number of anions formed by the electrolyte layer 51 on the surface of the hydrophobic layer 30 decreases, thereby reducing the hydrophilicity of the hydrophobic layer 30 surface. This allows the insulating liquid layer 52 to spread out, increasing the contact area with the hydrophobic layer 30, making the lens protrusion more gradual, and consequently reducing its light-gathering effect. By adjusting the voltage applied to the electrodes, the shape and light-gathering effect of the lens structure can be dynamically controlled, thereby reducing the brightness difference between the curved and flat areas of the display panel and achieving uniform display.

[0083] Continue to refer to Figure 2In one embodiment of the present invention, the display panel 200 may further include a blocking portion 60. The blocking portion 60 is located within the first display area 11 and is disposed on the side of the hydrophobic layer 30 facing away from the substrate 10. The blocking portion 60 at least partially surrounds the lens structure 50. In this embodiment, in the direction perpendicular to the substrate 10, the distance from the surface of the blocking portion 60 facing away from the substrate 10 to the substrate 10 is greater than or equal to the distance from the surface of the lens structure 50 facing away from the substrate 10 to the substrate 10. In this way, the blocking portion 60 can define the boundary position of the lens structure 50, prevent the insulating liquid layer 52 from excessively expanding or shifting laterally under the action of an electric field, and ensure the controllability and stability of the morphological changes of the lens structure 50. In some embodiments, the material of the blocking portion 60 includes at least one of polyimide and epoxy resin.

[0084] In one embodiment of the present invention, the display panel further includes:

[0085] The light-emitting layer is disposed on the side of the first electrode close to the substrate, and the orthogonal projection of the first display area on the substrate is located within the orthogonal projection range of the light-emitting layer on the substrate.

[0086] like Figure 4In this embodiment, the light-emitting layer 70 is disposed on one side of the substrate 10. On the side of the light-emitting layer 70 facing away from the substrate 10, and in a direction perpendicular to the substrate 10 (i.e., the third direction, Z direction), a first electrode 20, a hydrophobic layer 30, a second electrode 40, and a lens structure 50 are sequentially stacked. The first direction, the second direction, and the third direction intersect each other; this embodiment is illustrated by taking an example where the first direction (X direction), the second direction (Y direction), and the third direction (Z direction) are mutually perpendicular. It should be noted that the first electrode 20, the hydrophobic layer 30, the second electrode 40, and the lens structure 50 are all disposed within the first display area 11, which includes a bending region, while the light-emitting layer 70 needs to simultaneously cover both the first display area 11, which includes the bending region, and the second display area 12, which includes a central plane area. After light is emitted from the light-emitting layer 70, the light passing through the bending region sequentially passes through the first electrode 20, the hydrophobic layer 30, and other film layers before entering the lens structure 50. During this process, the electrodes receive voltage from the flexible circuit board and are thus turned on, generating an electric field. Under the influence of this electric field, the lens structure 50 located in the bending area can converge light. Specifically, by adjusting the voltage applied between the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 40, the shape of the insulating liquid layer 52 can be controlled: when the voltage increases, the contact area between the insulating liquid layer 52 and the hydrophobic layer 30 decreases, forming a more convex lens shape, enhancing the converging ability, and thus improving the light extraction efficiency of the bending area; when the voltage decreases, the insulating liquid layer 52 spreads out, the lens convexity becomes gentler, and its light-convexity effect is correspondingly weakened. This dynamically adjustable optical characteristic allows the system to compensate for the brightness difference between the bending area and the planar area, effectively reducing the brightness difference between the first display area 11 and the second display area 12, and improving the overall display uniformity.

[0087] It is understood that, in one embodiment of the present invention, the light-emitting layer 70 includes a light-emitting driving layer, a light-emitting device layer, and a thin-film encapsulation layer sequentially stacked on one side of the substrate 10. The light-emitting driving layer contains a driving circuit for controlling the light emission of the light-emitting device layer. The light-emitting driving layer is generally composed of inorganic film layers such as a metal layer, a semiconductor layer (active layer), and an insulating layer. By patterning these inorganic film layers, a driving circuit for controlling the light emission of the light-emitting device layer can be formed. The specific circuit structure can be implemented in various ways, which will not be elaborated here. The light-emitting device layer may include multiple spaced-apart light-emitting units, which may include light-emitting units of different colors. For example, it may include blue, red, and green light-emitting units arranged at intervals. Additionally, each pixel unit may also have four or more light-emitting units, in addition to the aforementioned three colors, plus light-emitting units of other colors such as white. Each light-emitting unit includes a third electrode, a light-emitting device layer, and a fourth electrode sequentially stacked. One of the third and fourth electrodes can serve as the anode of the light-emitting device layer, and the other as the cathode. The light-emitting device layer includes a hole injection layer (HIL), a hole transport layer (HTL), an electron blocking layer (EBL), a light-emitting material layer (EML), a hole blocking layer (HBL), an electron transport layer (ETL), and an electron injection layer (EIL). When the third and fourth electrodes are energized, electrons and holes migrate from the electron transport layer (ETL) and the hole transport layer (HTL) to the light-emitting material layer (EML), respectively, and meet in the EML to form excitons that excite the light-emitting molecules, thereby generating visible light for display purposes. Furthermore, the thin-film encapsulation layer may include a first encapsulation sublayer, a second encapsulation sublayer, and a third encapsulation sublayer sequentially disposed along a direction away from the substrate 10. The first and third encapsulation sublayers may include inorganic materials such as silicon oxide (SiOx), silicon nitride (SiNx), or silicon oxynitride (SiON), while the second encapsulation sublayer may include organic materials. The first encapsulation sublayer can protect each light-emitting unit from the influence of the external environment (such as air and water), preventing air and moisture from penetrating into the display panel 200, and extending the lifespan and stability of the light-emitting unit. The first encapsulation layer also prevents impurities and harmful substances from entering the display panel 200, thereby ensuring the performance and quality of the display panel 200. The organic material of the second encapsulation layer has unique flexibility and good adhesion. Compared with inorganic materials, organic materials can better adapt to the slight deformations that the display panel 200 may undergo in different environments, and will not crack due to bending or thermal expansion and contraction of the panel. By combining multiple film layers of the first, second, and third encapsulation layers, the encapsulation effect of the display panel 200 can be improved.In addition, the substrate 10 can be a rigid substrate made of materials such as glass or plastic, or a flexible substrate made of materials such as polyethersulfone (PES), polyacrylate (PAR), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyarylate, polyimide (PI), polycarbonate (PC) or cellulose acetate propionate (CAP).

[0088] In one embodiment of the present invention, the display panel further includes:

[0089] An encapsulation layer is disposed on the side of the lens structure facing away from the substrate; the orthographic projection of the first display area on the substrate is located within the orthographic projection range of the encapsulation layer on the substrate;

[0090] Preferably, the encapsulation layer covers the surface of the lens structure facing away from the substrate, and the encapsulation layer covers the surface of the blocking portion facing away from the substrate.

[0091] Continue to refer to Figure 4 In this embodiment, an encapsulation layer 80 is provided on the side of the lens structure 50 facing away from the substrate 10 to encapsulate and protect the lens structure 50 located within the first display area 11. Therefore, the orthographic projection of the first display area 11 onto the substrate 10 must be within the orthographic projection range of the encapsulation layer 80 onto the substrate 10; or, when the encapsulation layer 80 covers the first display area 11, it must at least cover the surface of the lens structure 50 facing away from the substrate 10. In this embodiment, the encapsulation layer 80 not only covers the surface of the lens structure 50 facing away from the substrate 10, but also simultaneously covers the surface of the blocking portion 60 facing away from the substrate 10, so as to achieve comprehensive encapsulation of the key film layer structure within the first display area 11 and improve the overall flatness of the film layer. It is worth noting that the encapsulation layer 80 in this embodiment differs from the thin film encapsulation layer included in the light-emitting layer 70 in terms of coverage area. Specifically, the encapsulation layer 80 only covers the first display area 11 near the bending area and does not extend to the second display area 12 located in the central plane area; while the thin film encapsulation layer in the light-emitting layer 70 has a larger coverage area, that is, the thin film encapsulation layer in the light-emitting layer 70 not only covers the first display area 11, but also covers the second display area 12 at the same time, and the orthographic projection of the encapsulation layer 80 on the substrate 10 is located within the orthographic projection range of the thin film encapsulation layer on the substrate 10.

[0092] In one embodiment of the present invention, the display panel further includes:

[0093] A first planarization layer is disposed on the side of the light-emitting layer near the first electrode; the orthographic projection of the first display area on the substrate is located within the orthographic projection range of the first planarization layer on the substrate, and the orthographic projection of the first planarization layer on the substrate is located within the orthographic projection range of the light-emitting layer on the substrate;

[0094] A second planarization layer is located within the first display area and is disposed on the side of the first planarization layer opposite to the substrate, and the second planarization layer at least partially surrounds the first electrode.

[0095] like Figure 5 In this embodiment, to achieve planarization of the film surface, a first planarization layer 90 is provided on the side of the light-emitting layer 70 away from the substrate 10 (i.e., the side of the light-emitting layer 70 closer to the first electrode 20). The first planarization layer 90 must at least cover the first display area 11, that is, the orthographic projection of the first display area 11 on the substrate 10 is within the orthographic projection range of the first planarization layer 90 on the substrate 10, to ensure that the first electrode 20, hydrophobic layer 30, and lens structure 50 located in the first display area 11 have a good planar substrate. To simplify the manufacturing process, in this embodiment, it is preferable to cover the surface of the light-emitting layer 70 away from the substrate 10 with the orthographic projection of the first planarization layer 90 on the substrate 10, that is, the orthographic projection of the first planarization layer 90 on the substrate 10 overlaps with the orthographic projection of the light-emitting layer 70 on the substrate 10, that is, the first planarization layer 90 covers the first display area 11 and the second display area 12. To further improve the planarization of structures such as the hydrophobic layer 30, lens structure 50, and blocking portion 60 located on the side of the first plateau layer 90 away from the substrate 10, a second plateau layer 100 is also provided on the side of the first plateau layer 90 away from the substrate 10. It should be noted that both the first electrode 20 and the second plateau layer 100 are located on the side of the first plateau layer 90 away from the substrate 10, but the second plateau layer 100 at least partially surrounds the first electrode 20, and in the direction perpendicular to the substrate 10 (Z direction), the thickness of the second plateau layer 100 is equal to the thickness of the first electrode 20, thereby forming an integrally flat support surface, facilitating the uniform deposition of subsequent film layers and the stability of the device. In some embodiments, the materials of both the first plateau layer 90 and the second plateau layer 100 include at least one of polyimide and acrylic resin.

[0096] In one embodiment of the present invention, the orthographic projection of the blocking portion 60 on the substrate 10 can be annular, or it can be understood that the blocking portion 60 includes an inner wall near the lens structure 50 and an outer wall away from the lens structure 50. The orthographic projection of the lens structure 50 on the substrate 10 is within the range of the orthographic projection of the inner wall of the blocking portion 60 on the substrate 10; the orthographic projection of the inner wall of the blocking portion 60 on the substrate 10 is within the range of the orthographic projection of the hydrophobic layer 30 on the substrate 10. In other words, the main purpose of the blocking portion 60 is to surround the lens structure 50 and prevent it from excessively expanding and shifting. Since the lens structure 50 is located within the spatial range of the hydrophobic layer 30, the maximum extent that the orthographic projection of the inner wall of the blocking portion 60 on the substrate 10 overlaps with the orthographic projection of the hydrophobic layer 30 on the substrate 10 is achieved. For the outer wall of the blocking portion 60, it can be selected to extend along the Y direction from the surface of the hydrophobic layer 30 away from the substrate 10. For example, as... Figure 4As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the blocking portion 60 is entirely located on the side of the hydrophobic layer 30 facing away from the substrate 10, that is, both the inner and outer walls of the blocking portion 60 are located on the surface of the hydrophobic layer 30 facing away from the substrate 10, to prevent the lens structure 50 from excessively expanding and shifting. Figure 5 As shown, in another embodiment of the present invention, the inner wall of the blocking portion 60 is located on the surface of the hydrophobic layer 30 facing away from the substrate 10, while the outer wall of the blocking portion 60 extends from the surface of the hydrophobic layer 30 facing away from the substrate 10 along the Y direction to the surface of the second planarization layer 100 facing away from the substrate 10, so that the multiple film layers are aligned in size in the Y direction, reducing the gaps between the film layers. Figure 6 As shown, in another embodiment of the present invention, the orthographic projection of the inner wall of the barrier portion 60 onto the substrate 10 overlaps with the orthographic projection of the hydrophobic layer 30 onto the substrate 10, and the outer wall of the barrier portion 60 also extends to the surface of the second planarization layer 100 on the side opposite to the substrate 10. In this embodiment, both the barrier portion 60 and the second planarization layer 100 are made of polyimide material, and therefore can be fabricated together, simplifying the manufacturing process.

[0097] In another embodiment of the invention, the display panel 200 includes a plurality of lens structures 50 spaced apart along the Y direction. For example... Figure 7 As shown, these lens structures 50 are all disposed in the electric field within the first display area 11 and are arranged at intervals along the Y direction. Since these lens structures 50 have the same distance from the central plane area (or the edge of the bending area) in the X direction, they can be considered to be in the same column. Based on this arrangement, all lens structures 50 in the same column can be electrically connected to the flexible circuit board through a common trace, simplifying the wiring design. In some specific embodiments, each lens structure 50 can be provided with a corresponding first electrode 20, hydrophobic layer 30, and second electrode 40. A blocking part 60 is provided between adjacent lens structures 50 to prevent optical or electrical crosstalk between the lenses and to constrain the lateral diffusion of the insulating liquid layer 52. Since these lens structures 50 share the same electrical signal path and are in the same electric field environment, the morphological changes of the insulating liquid layer 52 in each lens structure 50 are consistent, enabling synchronous and uniform control of light. By setting multiple lens structures 50 spaced apart along the Y direction, even if the light-gathering ability of a single lens is limited under a large electric field, the combined effect of multiple lenses can effectively compensate for the brightness difference between the bent area and the planar area, thereby improving the overall display uniformity and control reliability. In some embodiments, to simplify the manufacturing process, the multiple lens structures 50 arranged along the Y direction in each column can share the same first electrode 20. The first electrode 20 is laid out in a full-surface manner, and the same continuous hydrophobic layer 30 is provided on the side of it facing away from the substrate 10. This structure will not be described in detail.

[0098] In one embodiment of the present invention, the display panel 200 may be configured with multiple rows of lenses, each row of which is provided with multiple lens structures 50. For example... Figure 8-10 As shown, Figure 8 for Figure 1 Sectional view at BB' Figure 9 for Figure 8 Top view of the lens structure in the embodiment. Figure 10 for Figure 8 The embodiment shows a top view of the display panel. Multiple lens structures 50 are arranged in an array along the X and Y directions, and are all located within the electric field of the first display area 11. Each lens structure 50 is equipped with an independent first electrode 20, a hydrophobic layer 30, and a second electrode 40, forming a complete control unit. In the X and Y directions, a blocking portion 60 is provided between adjacent lens structures 50 to prevent optical or electrical interference and liquid material diffusion between the lens structures 50, ensuring the independence and stability of each lens's shape change. Multiple lens structures 50 in each column are connected to the flexible circuit board 110 via a common trace 120 to provide a unified electrical signal for all lenses in that column, reducing wiring. For example, three columns of lenses can be arranged in the first display area 11, each column containing four lens structures 50, with each column sharing a common trace 120 connected to the flexible circuit board 110. When light emerges from the light-emitting layer 70 and passes sequentially through the first electrode 20, the hydrophobic layer 30, and other film layers into the lens structure 50, lens structures 50 in the same column share the same electrical signal path, and their insulating liquid layers 52 have a consistent shape under the same electric field, achieving uniform control of the light. Lens structures 50 in different columns can be fitted with different electric fields through independent traces, thus forming different lenses. Specifically, because the bending regions of different columns of lens structures 50 are located at different positions (or at different distances from the central plane), the bending stress they experience and the corresponding brightness loss also differ. Therefore, different voltages need to be applied to each column of lenses. In this embodiment, a higher voltage is applied to the lens column farther from the plane, and under the stronger electric field, the contact area between the insulating liquid layer 52 and the hydrophobic layer 30 in that column of lens structures 50 decreases, forming a more convex, quasi-convex lens shape, thereby producing a stronger light-gathering effect and effectively improving the light extraction efficiency in that area. Conversely, lens arrays closer to the planar area are subjected to relatively lower voltages, resulting in reduced morphological changes and light-gathering effects. This zoned independent control method reduces the brightness difference between the curved and planar areas of the display panel, improving overall display uniformity. In another embodiment of the invention, to simplify the manufacturing process, multiple lens structures 50 arranged along the Y direction in each column can share the same first electrode 20. This first electrode 20 is laid out across the entire surface, and a continuous hydrophobic layer 30 is formed on its side facing away from the substrate 10. This design effectively reduces the number of film patterning steps while maintaining the optical functions of each lens, improving fabrication efficiency.

[0099] Secondly, embodiments of the present invention also provide a method for manufacturing a display panel, such as... Figure 11 As shown, the method for manufacturing the display panel includes the following steps:

[0100] S100, providing a substrate, the substrate including a first display area;

[0101] S200, An electric field is laid in the first display area;

[0102] S300. A lens structure is provided on one side of the substrate, so that the lens structure is located in an electric field.

[0103] In this embodiment, the substrate 10 is divided into a light-emitting side and a backlight side, and the substrate 10 on the light-emitting side includes a first display area 11 and a second display area 12. The first display area 11 includes a first surface, and the second display area includes a second surface, with the first and second surfaces located on different planes. The first surface includes at least one of a curved surface and a sloped surface, and the second surface includes a flat surface. In this embodiment, the first display area 11 is the bent area portion of the display panel 200, and an electric field is provided within it; the second display area 12 is the portion away from the bent area of ​​the display panel 200, i.e., the central flat area. At least one lens structure 50 is provided on the light-emitting side of the substrate 10, and this lens structure 50 is located in the electric field. By providing the lens structure 50 in the bent area of ​​the display panel, when light is emitted from the backlight side to the light-emitting side and passes through the bent area, the shape of the lens structure 50 in this area is controlled by the electric field, enabling it to converge the light and thus improve the light extraction efficiency. This method can reduce the difference in display brightness between the bent area and the flat area, improving the overall display uniformity.

[0104] In one embodiment of the present invention, step S200 includes:

[0105] S210. A first electrode is formed on one side of the substrate by patterning, and the first electrode is located in the first display area;

[0106] S220. A hydrophobic layer is coated on the side of the first electrode away from the substrate, and the hydrophobic layer at least covers a portion of the surface of the first electrode away from the substrate.

[0107] S230. A second electrode is formed by patterning on the side of the hydrophobic layer away from the substrate, and the second electrode is located in the first display area.

[0108] In one embodiment of the present invention, step S300 includes:

[0109] S310. A lens structure is provided on the side of the hydrophobic layer away from the substrate; the orthogonal projection of the lens structure on the substrate is located within the orthogonal projection range of the hydrophobic layer on the substrate; the lens structure includes an electrolyte layer and an insulating liquid layer, and the electrolyte layer is in contact with the second electrode.

[0110] In this embodiment, the morphology of the lens structure 50 is controlled by the interfacial properties of the hydrophobic layer 30 in conjunction with the electrodes. Specifically, a first electrode 20 is patterned on one side of the substrate 10, and a hydrophobic layer 30 is coated on the side of the first electrode 20 facing away from the substrate. To ensure that the lens structure 50 is in an effective electric field, a second electrode 40 is patterned on the side of the hydrophobic layer 30 facing away from the substrate 10, and the insulating liquid layer 52 of the lens structure 50 is in contact with the hydrophobic layer 30, and the electrolyte layer 51 of the lens structure 50 is in contact with the second electrode 40. In this embodiment, the second electrode 40 can be located at the bottom of the lens structure 50, that is, embedded in the electrolyte layer 51 near the lower end, while avoiding contact with the insulating liquid layer 52; in other embodiments, it can also be arranged on the sidewall or top of the lens structure 50. In this embodiment of the invention, the second electrode 40 is located at the bottom of the lens structure 50 as an example for explanation.

[0111] Therefore, the manufacturing method of the display panel includes the following steps:

[0112] S100, providing a substrate, the substrate including a first display area;

[0113] S210. A first electrode is formed on one side of the substrate by patterning, and the first electrode is located in the first display area;

[0114] S220. A hydrophobic layer is coated on the side of the first electrode away from the substrate, and the hydrophobic layer at least covers a portion of the surface of the first electrode away from the substrate.

[0115] S230. A second electrode is formed by patterning on the side of the hydrophobic layer away from the substrate, and the second electrode is located in the first display area;

[0116] S310. A lens structure is provided on the side of the hydrophobic layer away from the substrate; the orthogonal projection of the lens structure on the substrate is located within the orthogonal projection range of the hydrophobic layer on the substrate; the lens structure includes an electrolyte layer and an insulating liquid layer, and the electrolyte layer is in contact with the second electrode.

[0117] As shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b), after the electrode is connected to a voltage to form an electric field, anions migrate within the electrolyte layer 51, thereby altering the interfacial wetting characteristics between it and the underlying hydrophobic layer 30. Specifically, as the applied voltage increases, more anions are formed on the surface of the hydrophobic layer 30 from the electrolyte layer 51, thus increasing the hydrophilicity of the hydrophobic layer 30. This causes the hydrophilic electrolyte layer 51 to further compress the insulating liquid layer 52, reducing the contact area between the insulating liquid layer 52 and the hydrophobic layer 30, resulting in a more convex lens shape relative to the electrolyte layer 51. This shape enhances the light-gathering ability. Conversely, when the voltage decreases, fewer anions are formed on the surface of the hydrophobic layer 30 from the electrolyte layer 51, thus weakening the hydrophilicity of the hydrophobic layer 30. The insulating liquid layer 52 spreads out, increasing the contact area with the hydrophobic layer 30, making the lens convexity more gradual, and its light-gathering effect correspondingly weakened. By adjusting the voltage applied to the electrodes, the shape and light-gathering effect of the lens structure can be dynamically controlled, thereby reducing the brightness difference between the curved area and the flat area of ​​the display panel and achieving uniform display.

[0118] In one embodiment of the present invention, step S310 includes:

[0119] S311. A barrier is formed by patterning on the side of the hydrophobic layer away from the substrate;

[0120] S312. Fill the blocking portion with a lens structure such that the blocking portion at least partially surrounds the lens structure.

[0121] In this embodiment, along the direction perpendicular to the substrate 10, the distance from the surface of the blocking portion 60 facing away from the substrate 10 to the substrate 10 is greater than or equal to the distance from the surface of the lens structure 50 facing away from the substrate 10 to the substrate 10. This allows the blocking portion 60 to define the boundary position of the lens structure 50, preventing excessive lateral expansion or displacement of the insulating liquid layer 52 under the influence of an electric field, and ensuring the controllability and stability of the morphological changes of the lens structure 50.

[0122] In one embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes the following after step S312:

[0123] S313. An encapsulation layer is provided on the side of the lens structure away from the substrate, such that the encapsulation layer covers the surface of the lens structure away from the substrate, and the encapsulation layer covers the surface of the blocking part away from the substrate.

[0124] In this embodiment, an encapsulation layer 80 is deposited on the side of the lens structure 50 facing away from the substrate 10 to encapsulate and protect the lens structure 50 located within the first display area 11. Therefore, the orthographic projection of the first display area 11 onto the substrate 10 must be within the orthographic projection range of the encapsulation layer 80 onto the substrate 10. In this embodiment, the encapsulation layer 80 not only covers the surface of the lens structure 50 facing away from the substrate 10, but also covers the surface of the blocking portion 60 facing away from the substrate 10, thereby achieving comprehensive encapsulation of the key film layer structure within the first display area 11 and improving the overall flatness of the film layer.

[0125] In one embodiment of the present invention, before laying the electric field in the first display area, the method further includes the following steps:

[0126] S150. A light-emitting layer is provided on one side of the substrate, and the orthographic projection of the first display area on the substrate is located within the orthographic projection range of the light-emitting layer on the substrate.

[0127] In one embodiment of the present invention, step S210 further includes:

[0128] S211. A first planarization layer is coated on the side of the light-emitting layer away from the substrate, and the orthogonal projection of the first display area on the substrate is located within the orthogonal projection range of the first planarization layer on the substrate.

[0129] S212, A first electrode is formed by patterning on the side of the first planarization layer away from the substrate;

[0130] In one embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes the following after step S212:

[0131] S213. A second planarization layer is coated on the side of the first planarization layer away from the substrate, the second planarization layer at least partially surrounding the first electrode;

[0132] In this embodiment, to achieve planarization of the film surface, a first planarization layer 90 is provided on the side of the light-emitting layer 70 facing away from the substrate 10 (i.e., the side of the light-emitting layer 70 closer to the first electrode 20). The first planarization layer 90 must at least cover the first display area 11, that is, the orthographic projection of the first display area 11 on the substrate 10 is within the orthographic projection range of the first planarization layer 90 on the substrate 10, to ensure that the first electrode 20, hydrophobic layer 30, and lens structure 50 located in the first display area 11 have a good planar substrate. To simplify the manufacturing process, in this embodiment, it is preferable to cover the surface of the light-emitting layer 70 facing away from the substrate 10 with the orthographic projection of the first planarization layer 90 on the substrate 10, that is, the orthographic projection of the first planarization layer 90 on the substrate 10 overlaps with the orthographic projection of the light-emitting layer 70 on the substrate 10, that is, the first planarization layer 90 covers the first display area 11 and the second display area 12. To further improve the planarization of structures such as the hydrophobic layer 30, lens structure 50, and blocking portion 60 located on the side of the first plateau layer 90 away from the substrate 10, a second plateau layer 100 is also provided on the side of the first plateau layer 90 away from the substrate 10. It should be noted that both the first electrode 20 and the second plateau layer 100 are located on the side of the first plateau layer 90 away from the substrate 10, but the second plateau layer 100 at least partially surrounds the first electrode 20, and in the direction perpendicular to the substrate 10 (Z direction), the thickness of the second plateau layer 100 is equal to the thickness of the first electrode 20, thereby forming an integrally flat support surface, which facilitates the uniform deposition of subsequent film layers and the stability of the device.

[0133] Therefore, the manufacturing method of the display panel includes the following steps:

[0134] S100, providing a substrate, the substrate including a first display area;

[0135] S150. A light-emitting layer is provided on one side of the substrate, and the orthographic projection of the first display area on the substrate is located within the orthographic projection range of the light-emitting layer on the substrate.

[0136] S211. A first planarization layer is coated on the side of the light-emitting layer away from the substrate, and the orthogonal projection of the first display area on the substrate is located within the orthogonal projection range of the first planarization layer on the substrate.

[0137] S212, A first electrode is formed by patterning on the side of the first planarization layer away from the substrate;

[0138] S213. A second planarization layer is coated on the side of the first planarization layer away from the substrate, the second planarization layer at least partially surrounding the first electrode;

[0139] S220. A hydrophobic layer is coated on the side of the first electrode away from the substrate, and the hydrophobic layer at least covers a portion of the surface of the first electrode away from the substrate.

[0140] S230. A second electrode is formed by patterning on the side of the hydrophobic layer away from the substrate, and the second electrode is located in the first display area;

[0141] S311. A barrier is formed by patterning on the side of the hydrophobic layer away from the substrate;

[0142] S312. Fill the blocking portion with a lens structure such that the blocking portion at least partially surrounds the lens structure;

[0143] S313. An encapsulation layer is provided on the side of the lens structure away from the substrate, such that the encapsulation layer covers the surface of the lens structure away from the substrate, and the encapsulation layer covers the surface of the blocking part away from the substrate.

[0144] To form an electrical path, both the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 40 need to be electrically connected to an external power supply structure. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 40 are electrically connected to a flexible circuit board, which provides them with the required operating voltage. When light is emitted from the light-emitting layer 70 and passes through the first electrode 20, the hydrophobic layer 30, and other film layers in sequence before entering the lens structure 50, the electrodes are turned on by voltage and generate an electric field. Under the action of the electric field, the lens structure 50 located in the first display area 11 can focus the light passing through the bending area. Specifically, by adjusting the voltage applied between the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 40, the shape of the insulating liquid layer 52 can be controlled: when the voltage increases, the contact area between the insulating liquid layer 52 and the hydrophobic layer 30 decreases, forming a more convex lens shape, enhancing the focusing ability, thereby improving the light extraction efficiency of the bending area; when the voltage decreases, the insulating liquid layer 52 spreads out, the lens convexity becomes gentler, and its focusing effect on light is correspondingly weakened. This dynamically adjustable optical characteristic allows the system to compensate for the brightness difference between the curved and flat areas, effectively reducing the brightness difference between the curved and flat areas and improving the overall uniformity of the display.

[0145] Thirdly, this embodiment of the invention also provides a display device, which includes the display panel described above. The display device can be any device with display functionality, such as a mobile device like a mobile phone, tablet computer, laptop computer, PDA, in-vehicle electronic device, wearable device, Ultra Mobile Personal Computer (UMPC), netbook, or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or a non-mobile device like a personal computer (PC), television (TV), ATM, or self-service machine.

[0146] In this embodiment of the invention, by setting an electric field in the bending area of ​​the display panel and placing a lens structure in the electric field, when light passes through the bending area, the shape of the lens structure is controlled by the electric field so that it can converge the light and improve the light output efficiency, thereby reducing the difference in display brightness between the bending area and the flat area and improving the uniformity of the overall display.

[0147] While the invention has been described herein with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood that these embodiments are merely examples of the principles and applications of the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that many modifications can be made to the exemplary embodiments, and other arrangements can be designed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It should be understood that different dependent claims and features described herein can be combined in ways different from those described in the original claims. It is also understood that features described in conjunction with individual embodiments can be used in other described embodiments.

Claims

1. A display panel, characterized in that, include: The substrate includes a first display area, wherein an electric field is provided within the first display area; At least one lens structure is located on one side of the substrate and is disposed in the electric field.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lens structure includes an electrolyte layer and an insulating liquid layer, wherein the electrolyte layer at least partially surrounds the insulating liquid layer; the refractive index of the electrolyte layer is less than the refractive index of the insulating liquid layer, and the surface of the insulating liquid layer forms an angle θ with the plane of the substrate at the same point on the side closer to the insulating liquid layer; the angle θ is positively correlated with the strength of the electric field; wherein θ is less than 90°. The lens structure is made of electroactive materials; Preferably, the electroactive material includes an electrowetting material; Preferably, the electrolyte layer is made of a conductive aqueous solution, and the insulating liquid layer is made of silicone oil.

3. The display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that, Also includes: A hydrophobic layer is disposed on the side of the lens structure near the substrate and is in contact with the insulating liquid layer; The orthogonal projection of the lens structure onto the substrate lies within the orthogonal projection range of the hydrophobic layer onto the substrate; Preferably, the material of the hydrophobic layer includes at least one of fluorocarbon materials and silicon materials; Preferably, the fluorocarbon material includes polytetrafluoroethylene; Preferably, the silicon type includes silicon nitride.

4. The display panel according to claim 3, characterized in that, The electric field includes at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode; the first electrode is disposed on the side of the hydrophobic layer near the substrate, and the hydrophobic layer at least covers a portion of the surface of the first electrode facing away from the substrate; the second electrode is disposed on the side of the hydrophobic layer facing away from the substrate and is in contact with the electrolyte layer; wherein the first electrode and the second electrode have opposite polarities.

5. The display panel according to claim 4, characterized in that, Also includes: A blocking portion is disposed on the side of the hydrophobic layer opposite to the substrate and at least partially surrounds the lens structure; the blocking portion is located within the first display area; Preferably, in the direction perpendicular to the substrate, the distance from the surface of the blocking portion facing away from the substrate to the substrate is greater than or equal to the distance from the surface of the lens structure facing away from the substrate to the substrate; Preferably, the material of the blocking portion includes at least one of polyimide and epoxy resin; Preferably, the first display area includes a first surface, which includes at least one of an arc surface and an inclined surface.

6. The display panel according to claim 5, characterized in that, Also includes: A light-emitting layer is disposed on the side of the first electrode near the substrate, and the orthographic projection of the first display area on the substrate is located within the orthographic projection range of the light-emitting layer on the substrate; An encapsulation layer is disposed on the side of the lens structure opposite to the substrate; the orthographic projection of the first display area on the substrate is located within the orthographic projection range of the encapsulation layer on the substrate; Preferably, the encapsulation layer covers the surface of the lens structure opposite to the substrate, and the encapsulation layer covers the surface of the blocking portion opposite to the substrate.

7. The display panel according to claim 6, characterized in that, Also includes: A first planarization layer is disposed on the side of the light-emitting layer near the first electrode; the orthographic projection of the first display area on the substrate is located within the orthographic projection range of the first planarization layer on the substrate, and the orthographic projection of the first planarization layer on the substrate is located within the orthographic projection range of the light-emitting layer on the substrate; A second planarization layer is located within the first display area and is disposed on the side of the first planarization layer opposite to the substrate, and the second planarization layer at least partially surrounds the first electrode. Preferably, the thickness of the second planarization layer is equal to the thickness of the first electrode in the direction perpendicular to the substrate; preferably, the orthographic projection of the first planarization layer on the substrate overlaps with the orthographic projection of the light-emitting layer on the substrate; preferably, the materials of both the first planarization layer and the second planarization layer include at least one of polyimide and acrylic resin.

8. A method for manufacturing a display panel, characterized in that, include: A substrate is provided, the substrate including a first display area; An electric field is laid within the first display area; A lens structure is disposed on one side of the substrate, such that the lens structure is located in the electric field.

9. The method for manufacturing a display panel according to claim 8, characterized in that, The step of laying an electric field within the first display area includes: A first electrode is formed by patterning on one side of the substrate, and the first electrode is located within the first display area; A hydrophobic layer is coated on the side of the first electrode away from the substrate, and the hydrophobic layer at least covers a portion of the surface of the first electrode on the side away from the substrate. A second electrode is formed by patterning on the side of the hydrophobic layer away from the substrate, and the second electrode is located within the first display area; Preferably, the step of setting a lens structure on one side of the substrate, such that the lens structure is located in the electric field, includes: setting the lens structure on the side of the hydrophobic layer away from the substrate; the orthographic projection of the lens structure on the substrate is located within the orthographic projection range of the hydrophobic layer on the substrate; the lens structure includes an electrolyte layer and an insulating liquid layer, and the electrolyte layer is in contact with the second electrode; Preferably, the provision of the lens structure on the side of the hydrophobic layer opposite to the substrate includes: A barrier portion is formed by patterning on the side of the hydrophobic layer opposite to the substrate; The lens structure is filled into the blocking portion such that the blocking portion at least partially surrounds the lens structure; Preferably, after filling the lens structure into the blocking portion such that the blocking portion at least partially surrounds the lens structure, the method further includes: An encapsulation layer is provided on the side of the lens structure facing away from the substrate, such that the encapsulation layer covers the surface of the lens structure facing away from the substrate, and the encapsulation layer also covers the surface of the blocking portion facing away from the substrate. Preferably, before laying the electric field in the first display area, the method further includes: A light-emitting layer is disposed on one side of the substrate, and the orthographic projection of the first display area on the substrate is located within the orthographic projection range of the light-emitting layer on the substrate; Preferably, the first electrode is formed by patterning on one side of the substrate, comprising: A first planarization layer is coated on the side of the light-emitting layer opposite to the substrate, and the orthographic projection of the first display area on the substrate is located within the orthographic projection range of the first planarization layer on the substrate; The first electrode is formed by patterning on the side of the first planar layer opposite to the substrate; Preferably, after the first electrode is formed by patterning on the side of the first planarization layer opposite to the substrate, the method further includes: A second planarization layer is coated on the side of the first planarization layer opposite to the substrate, and the second planarization layer at least partially surrounds the first electrode; Preferably, the thickness of the second planarization layer is equal to the thickness of the first electrode in the direction perpendicular to the substrate.

10. A display device, characterized in that, It includes the display panel as described in any one of claims 1-7, and / or the display panel manufactured by the preparation method as described in any one of claims 8-9.

Images