Display panel and electronic device

Abstract

This application provides a display panel and an electronic device. The display panel includes: an array substrate; a pixel definition layer including a plurality of pixel definition portions, at least some of which surround to form a pixel opening; a light-emitting layer including a plurality of light-emitting units; and an optical adjustment layer including a plurality of optical adjustment units, each optical adjustment unit including an adjustment portion, each adjustment portion being disposed around the pixel opening. The optical adjustment unit includes a first state and a second state. After receiving a first voltage signal, the optical adjustment unit is configured to expand in the direction pointing towards the pixel opening to form the second state. The orthographic projection of the optical adjustment unit in the second state onto the array substrate covers the orthographic projection of the optical adjustment unit in the first state onto the array substrate. The solution of this application has sensitive feedback, excellent privacy protection, a large adjustable range for privacy protection, and can ensure a high PPI of the display panel without compressing the aperture ratio of the display panel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of OLED display technology, and in particular to a display panel and an electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display technology is considered the most promising next-generation display technology. Compared with liquid crystal display technology, OLED display technology has advantages such as low energy consumption, low cost, self-emissiveness, wide viewing angle, and fast response speed.

[0003] With the deep integration of mobile office and digital life, OLED displays are increasingly used in portable devices such as smartphones and laptops. In high-density public settings, the risk of screen privacy leaks increases significantly, making the market demand for "proactive" privacy protection increasingly urgent. Currently, privacy protection technologies require two areas in pixel design: a privacy protection area and a shared area. Because two types of pixels need to be arranged within a single pixel pitch, the sub-pixel aperture ratio decreases significantly, increasing the required driving current density for the same brightness, which in turn degrades the OLED's lifespan and fails to meet customers' demands for high PPI for privacy protection pixels. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, this application provides a display panel and an electronic device.

[0005] The first aspect of this application provides a display panel, including:

[0006] Array substrate; A pixel definition layer includes a plurality of pixel definition parts, at least some of which together form a pixel opening; The light-emitting layer includes a plurality of light-emitting units, at least some of which are disposed in the pixel opening; An optical adjustment layer includes multiple optical adjustment units disposed on the side of the pixel definition layer opposite to the array substrate. Each optical adjustment unit includes an adjustment part, and each adjustment part is disposed around the pixel opening. The optical adjustment unit includes a first state and a second state. After receiving a first voltage signal, the optical adjustment unit is configured to expand in the direction pointing to the pixel opening to form the second state. The orthographic projection of the optical adjustment unit in the second state onto the array substrate covers the orthographic projection of the optical adjustment unit in the first state onto the array substrate.

[0007] Furthermore, in the display panel, at least some of the pixel openings correspond to two optical adjustment units, and the two optical adjustment units are respectively located on both sides of the pixel opening along a first direction, the first direction being the direction intersecting with the second direction, and the second direction being the column direction of the light-emitting unit; Preferably, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

[0008] Furthermore, in the display panel, the optical adjustment unit includes a conductive part, which is disposed on the side of the adjustment part away from the pixel opening along the plane of the substrate. The conductive part is electrically connected to the circuit in the array substrate through a via on the pixel definition part. Preferably, the conductive portion and the adjusting portion have the same thickness along the thickness direction of the array substrate.

[0009] Furthermore, in the display panel, an insulating layer is provided between two conductive portions located on the side of the same pixel definition portion away from the array substrate; Preferably, the insulating layer is positioned within the orthographic projection of the pixel definition portion onto the array substrate.

[0010] Furthermore, in the display panel, the orthographic projection of the optical adjustment unit in the second state onto the array substrate overlaps with the orthographic projection of the pixel opening onto the array substrate.

[0011] Furthermore, in the display panel, the orthographic projection of the optical adjustment unit in the first state onto the array substrate does not overlap with the orthographic projection of the pixel opening onto the array substrate.

[0012] Furthermore, in the display panel, an encapsulation layer is provided between the pixel definition layer and the optical adjustment layer, and at least a portion of the encapsulation layer is provided on the side of the optical unit facing away from the array substrate.

[0013] Furthermore, in the display panel, a light-transmitting part is provided between two adjustment parts located on the side of two adjacent pixel definition parts facing away from the array substrate, and the light-transmitting part is made of a deformable material.

[0014] Furthermore, in the display panel, the conductive portion includes a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion, the first conductive portion being located on a first side of the pixel opening along the first direction, and at least a portion of the conductive portion being electrically connected through a first control circuit; The conductive portions, at least partially located on the second side of the different pixel openings along the first direction, are electrically connected via a second control circuit. Preferably, the direction of the lead-out line of the first conductive part to the first control circuit is opposite to the direction of the lead-out line of the second conductive part to the second control circuit; Preferably, the first control circuit and the second control circuit are arranged in parallel.

[0015] A second aspect of this application provides an electronic device including a display panel as described in any of the above claims.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this application are: the solution of this application has sensitive feedback, good anti-spy effect, large adjustable range of anti-spy, and the PPI of the display panel can be guaranteed to be very high without compressing the aperture ratio of the display panel. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is one of the cross-sectional views of the display panel in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 This is a second cross-sectional view of the display panel in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the display panel in this application; Figure 4 This is one of the circuit connection diagrams of the display panel in the embodiments of this application; Figure 5 This is the second schematic diagram of the circuit connection of the display panel in the embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art should fall within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0019] The terminology used in the embodiments of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in the embodiments of this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used in the embodiments of this application refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more associated listed items.

[0020] It should be understood that in the description of the embodiments of this application, the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the scheme of the embodiments of this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this application.

[0021] Furthermore, when an element or layer is referred to as being "on" another element or layer, "connected to," or "bonded to" another element or layer, the element or layer may be directly on the other element or layer, directly connected to, or directly bonded to the other element or layer, or there may be intermediate elements or layers. However, when an element or layer is referred to as being "directly on" another element or layer, "directly connected to," or "directly bonded to" another element or layer, there are no intermediate elements or layers.

[0022] The terms First, Second, etc., are used to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and / or parts, but these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or parts should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, and / or part from another element, component, region, layer, and / or part.

[0023] Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0024] Please refer to Figures 1 to 2As shown, the display panel includes an array substrate 100, a pixel definition layer 200, a light-emitting layer 300, and an optical adjustment layer 500. The array substrate 100 serves as the support base for the display panel, and a driving circuit for driving the light-emitting units 301 to emit light is formed thereon. The pixel definition layer 200 is disposed on one side of the array substrate 100 and includes a plurality of pixel definition portions 201, at least some of which surround to form a pixel opening 202. The light-emitting layer 300 is disposed on one side of the array substrate 100 and includes a plurality of light-emitting units 301, at least some of which are located within the pixel opening 202. The optical adjustment layer 500 is disposed on the side of the pixel definition portions 201 facing away from the array substrate 100 and includes a plurality of optical adjustment units. Each optical adjustment unit includes an adjustment portion 501, and each adjustment portion 501 is disposed around the pixel opening 202. The optical adjustment unit includes a first state and a second state. After the optical adjustment unit is configured to receive the first voltage signal, the adjustment section 501 expands in the direction pointing to the pixel opening 202 to form a second state. The orthographic projection of the optical adjustment unit in the second state onto the array substrate 100 covers the area of ​​the orthographic projection of the optical adjustment unit in the first state onto the array substrate 100.

[0025] In one specific embodiment, the fabrication of the display panel begins with providing an array substrate 100 on which a driving circuit has been pre-formed. A pixel definition layer 200 is formed on the array substrate, which defines multiple pixel definition portions 201 by photolithography. Adjacent pixel definition portions 201 surround each other to form an array of pixel openings 202. Subsequently, a light-emitting layer 300 is formed within the pixel openings 202 by vapor deposition or inkjet printing. Each pixel opening 202 contains a light-emitting unit 301, which is electrically connected to the driving circuit on the array substrate 100. On the side of the pixel definition layer 300 facing away from the array substrate 100, an optical adjustment layer 500 is fabricated. This optical adjustment layer 500 includes multiple independent optical adjustment units, and the adjustment portion 501 of each optical adjustment unit is disposed in a planar position precisely around the periphery of a pixel opening 202. The adjustment portion 501 is made of an electroactive polymer material, such as a dielectric elastomer. In the first state without applied voltage, the optical adjustment unit maintains its initial configuration, with its adjustment portion 501 having its outer edge flush with or slightly recessed from the edge of the pixel opening 202. When a first voltage signal is applied to a selected optical adjustment unit, the adjustment portion 501 within that unit deforms under the influence of the electric field, expanding in volume and extending primarily along the direction pointing towards the center of the pixel opening 202 it surrounds. The expanded optical adjustment unit enters a second state, with at least a portion of its adjustment portion 501 extending into the area above the pixel opening 202, significantly increasing the orthogonal projection area of ​​the optical adjustment unit on the array substrate. This physically blocks the light-emitting area of ​​the pixel opening 202, reducing its effective light-emitting aperture and achieving the effect of limiting the light-emitting viewing angle and providing privacy protection. This solution offers sensitive feedback, excellent privacy protection, a wide adjustable privacy range, and ensures a high PPI for the display panel without compressing the aperture ratio of the display panel.

[0026] In another preferred embodiment, the material properties and structure of the adjustment section 501 of the optical adjustment unit are designed to exhibit anisotropic deformation characteristics upon expansion. Specifically, when the adjustment section 501 of the optical adjustment unit receives a first voltage signal and enters a second state, its expansion dimension along the first direction is greater than its expansion dimension along the second direction. Here, the second direction is defined as the column direction of the light-emitting unit 301, i.e., the longitudinal direction of the display panel; the first direction intersects the second direction, preferably perpendicularly, i.e., the transverse direction of the display panel. With this design, the optical adjustment unit extends more laterally (e.g., in the horizontal direction) into the pixel opening when expanding. In actual display, the human eye is more sensitive to changes in viewing angle in the horizontal direction. This anisotropic expansion can more effectively compress the angle range of emitted light in the horizontal direction, thereby achieving a privacy protection effect for horizontal viewing angles, while having less impact on light emission in the vertical direction, thus balancing privacy protection performance and basic display brightness.

[0027] In practical applications, to achieve the desired privacy protection effect, the degree of expansion of the adjustment section 501 of the optical adjustment unit is quantitatively defined. When the adjustment section 501 of the optical adjustment unit is applied a first voltage signal and expands to the second state, its orthographic projection on the array substrate 100 overlaps with the orthographic projection of the pixel opening 202 on the array substrate 100. This means that the expanded adjustment section 501 actually extends into the vertical projection area of ​​the pixel opening in physical space. This overlap directly corresponds to the blocking effect of the optical adjustment unit on the light emitted from the light-emitting unit. The size of the overlapping area can be adjusted according to the required privacy protection level. By controlling the amplitude or pulse width of the first voltage signal, the overlapping surface can be precisely adjusted.

[0028] Specifically, the array substrate 100 includes a substrate and a driving circuit layer formed on the substrate. The substrate can be a glass substrate, a quartz substrate, a plastic substrate, or a flexible substrate, etc. The driving circuit layer includes multiple thin-film transistors, each thin-film transistor including a gate, a source, and a drain, for driving the corresponding light-emitting unit 301 to emit light. A planarization layer is also disposed on the driving circuit layer to planarize the surface of the driving circuit layer, providing a flat substrate for the formation of subsequent film layers.

[0029] Furthermore, the pixel definition layer 200 is disposed on one side of the array substrate 100 (i.e., the side of the planarization layer facing away from the substrate) and includes a plurality of pixel definition portions 201. The pixel definition portions 201 are made of an insulating material, such as polyimide, acrylic resin, or other organic insulating materials. At least a portion of the pixel definition portions 201 surround to form a pixel opening 202, which is used to accommodate the light-emitting units 301 of the light-emitting layer 300. The function of the pixel definition layer 200 is to define the light-emitting area of ​​each light-emitting unit 301 and prevent optical crosstalk between adjacent light-emitting units 301.

[0030] Furthermore, the light-emitting layer 300 is disposed on one side of the array substrate 100 and includes a plurality of light-emitting units 301. Each light-emitting unit 301 is at least partially located in the pixel opening 202, and each light-emitting unit 301 includes an anode, an organic light-emitting layer 300, and a cathode. The anode is disposed at the bottom of the pixel opening 202 and is electrically connected to the drain of a corresponding thin-film transistor in the array substrate 100. The organic light-emitting layer 300 is disposed on the anode and is used to emit light under electric field excitation. The cathode is disposed on the organic light-emitting layer 300 and covers the entire display area. The light-emitting units 301 may include red light-emitting units 301, green light-emitting units 301, and blue light-emitting units 301 to achieve full-color display.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the pixel opening 202 corresponds to two optical adjustment units, which are located on opposite sides of the pixel opening 202 along a first direction. The first direction intersects with a second direction, which is the column direction of the light-emitting unit 301 (i.e., the vertical direction of the display panel, or the extension direction of the data lines). Preferably, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, i.e., the first direction is the row direction of the light-emitting unit 301 (i.e., the horizontal direction of the display panel, or the extension direction of the scan lines).

[0032] Specifically, for each pixel opening 202, an adjustment section 501 of an optical adjustment unit is provided on both sides along the first direction (row direction). The two adjustment sections 501 are arranged opposite to each other and jointly adjust the emitted light from the light-emitting unit 301 located between them. When both adjustment sections 501 of the optical adjustment units are in an expanded state, the emission angle of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 301 in the row direction is limited by the two adjustment sections 501, thereby realizing the privacy function in the row direction.

[0033] This paired configuration allows for more effective control over the range of light emission angles. By adjusting the voltage signal applied to the two adjustment sections 501, the expansion of the adjustment sections 501 can be precisely controlled, thereby achieving fine adjustment of the emission angle range. For example, when complete privacy protection is required, the expansion of both adjustment sections 501 can be adjusted to the maximum; when partial privacy protection is required, the expansion of both adjustment sections 501 can be adjusted to the intermediate state; and when privacy protection is not required, the expansion of both adjustment sections 501 can be modulated to the initial state.

[0034] Additionally, in the column direction (second direction), optical adjustment units may or may not be provided between adjacent pixel openings 202, depending on the privacy requirements. Through paired placement in the row direction, the display panel can flexibly switch between wide-viewing-angle and narrow-viewing-angle modes.

[0035] In one specific embodiment, the conductive portion 502 of the optical adjustment unit is made of polyacrylamide-based conductive hydrogel, and conductive enhancement components, such as ionic liquids or conductive polymers, are uniformly dispersed in the gel network. This hydrogel is prepared by in-situ polymerization, and multiple independent optical adjustment units are patterned on the surface of the pixel definition portion away from the array substrate. When a first voltage signal is applied to the optical adjustment unit, ions inside the hydrogel migrate directionally under the influence of the electric field, causing changes in local osmotic pressure or electrostatic interactions within the gel network. This drives the hydrogel to anisotropically expand in the direction pointing towards the pixel opening, switching from a first state to a second state, thereby blocking the light-emitting area of ​​the pixel opening.

[0036] In another embodiment, the conductive portion 502 of the optical adjustment unit is made of polyvinyl chloride gel material doped with ionic liquid. This gel is formed by uniformly doping the ionic liquid into the polyvinyl chloride matrix. The addition of the ionic liquid significantly reduces the electro-deformation driving voltage of the gel, allowing the optical adjustment unit to generate sufficient expansion displacement under low voltage conditions below ten volts, thereby reducing the power consumption of the display panel and the voltage withstand requirements of the driving circuit. Simultaneously, the polyvinyl chloride gel has high transparency and good processing properties, making it easy to fabricate fine structures surrounding pixel openings using photolithography or imprinting processes.

[0037] In another embodiment, the conductive part 502 of the optical adjustment unit employs a conductive hydrogel with dual electrochromic and electrodeformation response characteristics. This hydrogel uses polyvinyl alcohol as a framework, composites it with electrochromic units such as ammonium molybdate or ethyl viologen, and introduces conductive ions to impart ionic conductivity. When a voltage is applied, the hydrogel not only expands and deforms but also simultaneously changes color, further enhancing the blocking effect on light emitted from the pixel aperture. The expansion and deformation provide physical blocking, while the color change provides optical absorption; their synergistic effect significantly improves the viewing angle compression effect and contrast in privacy mode. After the applied voltage is removed, the hydrogel can gradually recover to its initial transparent state and contracted shape in an oxygen environment, enabling rapid switching of display modes.

[0038] In another embodiment, the conductive portion 502 of the optical adjustment unit is made of a conductive hydrogel with shape memory function, such as a PVA / MXene composite hydrogel. This material can switch between permanent and temporary states through photothermal or electrothermal responses. Utilizing the high conductivity and photothermal conversion efficiency of MXene, the shape memory behavior of the hydrogel can be triggered by the Joule heating effect when a voltage signal is applied, causing it to change from a pre-programmed temporary contraction state to a permanent expansion state, or vice versa. This dual-state programmable characteristic enables more precise spatiotemporal controllability of the expansion behavior of the optical adjustment unit, achieving selective occlusion and orderly driving of the local pixel opening 202, meeting more complex privacy display requirements.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the optical adjustment unit further includes a conductive portion 502, which is disposed on the side of the adjustment portion 501 away from the pixel opening 202 along the plane of the substrate. The conductive portion 502 is electrically connected to the circuitry in the array substrate 100 through a via on the pixel definition portion 201.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the conductive portion 502 of the optical adjustment unit is made of a conductive hydrogel material with electrodeformation properties. Compared with traditional dielectric elastomers, conductive hydrogels have both good ionic conductivity and electrodeformation / contraction response characteristics, can generate significant volume deformation under low voltage driving, and have high transparency, excellent biocompatibility and flexibility, making them particularly suitable for optical control scenarios in display panels.

[0041] Specifically, the conductive part 502 is made of a conductive material, such as a transparent conductive oxide like indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO), or a metal like silver, aluminum, or copper. The conductive part 502 is disposed adjacent to and electrically connected to the adjustment part 501. The function of the conductive part 502 is to provide a voltage signal to the adjustment part 501. Specifically, the control circuit in the array substrate 100 transmits the voltage signal to the conductive part 502 through vias, and then the conductive part 502 applies the voltage signal to the adjustment part 501, thereby controlling the expansion degree of the adjustment part 501.

[0042] As a preferred embodiment, the conductive part 502 is disposed on the side of the adjustment part 501 away from the pixel opening 202, that is, on the outside of the optical adjustment unit. This arrangement ensures that the conductive part 502 does not block the emitted light from the light-emitting unit 301, thus guaranteeing the normal display effect of the display panel.

[0043] In this embodiment, the conductive part 502 and the adjustment part 501 together constitute an optical adjustment unit. The conductive part 502 serves as a voltage signal transmission medium, and the adjustment part 501 serves as a control element for expansion. The two work together to achieve effective adjustment of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 301.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the conductive portion 502 and the adjusting portion 501 have the same thickness along the thickness direction of the array substrate 100. Specifically, the conductive portion 502 and the adjusting portion 501 are disposed on the side surface of the pixel defining portion 201 facing away from the array substrate 100. In the direction perpendicular to the plane of the array substrate 100 (i.e., the thickness direction of the array substrate 100), the height of the conductive portion 502 is the same as the height of the adjusting portion 501. That is, the upper surface of the conductive portion 502 and the upper surface of the adjusting portion 501 are located on the same horizontal plane, and the lower surface of the conductive portion 502 and the lower surface of the adjusting portion 501 are also located on the same horizontal plane. The design of having the same thickness for the conductive part 502 and the adjustment part 501 has the following advantages: First, it facilitates the planarization of the optical adjustment unit, making the formation of subsequent film layers (such as encapsulation layers) easier and improving the uniformity and reliability of the film layers; second, it avoids the step effect caused by thickness differences, reducing light scattering and reflection, and improving display quality; third, it simplifies the manufacturing process, allowing the conductive part 502 and the adjustment part 501 to be formed simultaneously through the same patterning process, reducing manufacturing costs. In this embodiment, the thickness range of the conductive part 502 and the adjustment part 501 can be selected according to the design requirements and manufacturing process of the display panel.

[0045] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown in a preferred embodiment, the conductive portion 502 includes a first conductive portion 5021 and a second conductive portion 502. The first conductive portion 5021 is located on a first side of the pixel opening 202 along a first direction. At least a portion of the first conductive portion 5021 is electrically connected through a first control circuit 101. That is, multiple first conductive portions 5021 located on different first sides of the pixel opening 202 can be uniformly controlled by the first control circuit 101. The first control circuit 101 can apply the same voltage signal to these first conductive portions 5021, so that the corresponding adjustment portions 501 have the same degree of expansion.

[0046] At least some of the conductive portions 502 (i.e., second conductive portions 502) located on the second side of different pixel openings 202 along the first direction are electrically connected through the second control circuit 102. Similarly, multiple second conductive portions 502 located on the second side of different pixel openings 202 can be uniformly controlled by the second control circuit 102 so that the corresponding adjustment portions 501 have the same degree of expansion.

[0047] Preferably, the direction of the lead-out line from the first conductive part 5021 to the first control circuit 101 is opposite to the direction of the lead-out line from the second conductive part 5022 to the second control circuit 102. Specifically, the first lead-out line 110 of the first conductive part 5021 extends to the first control circuit 101 in the positive direction of the second direction, and the second lead-out line 120 of the second conductive part 5022 extends to the second control circuit 102 in the negative direction of the second direction. This design with opposite lead-out line directions avoids crossing and interference between the leads, simplifies wiring design, and improves the reliability and manufacturing yield of the display panel. The first lead-out line 110 and the second lead-out line 120 are arranged in parallel and parallel to the signal lines, which can eliminate the influence between the traces and facilitate wiring.

[0048] Preferably, the first control circuit 101 and the second control circuit 102 are arranged in parallel. Specifically, the first control circuit 101 and the second control circuit 102 can extend parallel to each other along the second direction (column direction) and are respectively arranged on both sides of the display area along the first direction. This parallel arrangement is beneficial to the layout of the control circuits and the stability of signal transmission.

[0049] In this embodiment, by dividing the conductive part 502 into a first conductive part 5021 and a second conductive part 5022, and independently controlling them through the first control circuit 101 and the second control circuit 102 respectively, differentiated control of the optical adjustment units on both sides of the pixel opening 202 can be achieved. For example, when privacy protection in a specific direction is required, only one side of the adjustment part 501 can be adjusted to a high expansion state, while keeping the other side of the adjustment part 501 in a low expansion state or a non-expansion state, thereby achieving asymmetrical viewing angle control.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment unit 501 includes an aperture 504. The aperture 504 is configured to be in a first volume after receiving a first voltage signal and in a second volume after receiving a second voltage signal, wherein the first volume is smaller than the second volume.

[0051] In this embodiment, the amplitudes of the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal can be selected according to the specific characteristics of the material of the adjustment unit 501. For example, the first voltage signal can be -1V to -3V, and the second voltage signal can be +1V to +3V. By adjusting the amplitude of the voltage signals, the volume of the adjustment unit 501 can be continuously adjusted, thereby achieving continuous control of the occlusion area of ​​the pixel opening 202.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment, the first conductive portion 5021 and the second conductive portion 5022 located on the side of the same pixel definition portion 201 facing away from the array substrate 100 are isolated by an insulating portion 503.

[0053] Specifically, for each pixel definition section 201, a first conductive section 5021 and a second conductive section 5022 are simultaneously provided. The first conductive section 5021 and the second conductive section 5022 are located on opposite sides of the pixel opening 202, and they need to be electrically insulated from each other to prevent short circuits. For this purpose, an insulating section 503 is provided between the first conductive section 5021 and the second conductive section 5022. The insulating section 503 is made of an insulating material, such as inorganic insulating materials like silicon dioxide or silicon nitride, or organic insulating materials like polyimide or acrylic resin.

[0054] The insulating part 503 ensures electrical isolation between the first conductive part 5021 and the second conductive part 5022, allowing them to receive different voltage signals independently, thereby enabling independent control of the optical adjustment units on both sides of the pixel opening 202.

[0055] Preferably, the conductive portion 502 and the insulating portion 503 have equal thickness along the thickness direction of the array substrate 100. That is, the first conductive portion 5021, the second conductive portion 5022, and the insulating portion 503 have the same height in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array substrate 100. This uniform thickness design facilitates the planarization of the optical adjustment layer 500, making the formation of subsequent film layers easier. At the same time, the first conductive portion 5021, the second conductive portion 5022, and the insulating portion 503 can be formed simultaneously in the same patterning process, simplifying the manufacturing process.

[0056] Reference Figure 1 and 2 As shown, in another specific embodiment, the conductive portion 502 is not introduced into the array substrate 100 through the via on the pixel definition portion 201, but rather led out from the edge of the layer containing the conductive portion 502. Considering the sensitivity of OLED devices to water and oxygen, an encapsulation layer 400 is provided between the pixel definition layer 200 and the optical adjustment layer 500. This encapsulation layer 400 not only covers the upper surface of the pixel definition layer 200, but also continuously covers the side of the light-emitting unit facing away from the array substrate 100, that is, it covers the entire light-emitting layer. The encapsulation layer typically adopts an alternating stacked inorganic and organic layer structure, such as a composite film layer of silicon nitride layer and epoxy resin layer, to block moisture and oxygen in the external environment. The optical adjustment layer is fabricated on the upper surface of this encapsulation layer. In this way, the encapsulation layer not only ensures the long service life of the light-emitting unit, but also provides a flat and clean substrate for the upper optical adjustment layer, which is beneficial for the precise patterning of the optical adjustment unit.

[0057] Reference Figure 3As shown, in a preferred embodiment, the adjustment section 501 is directly led into the array substrate 100 through a via on the pixel definition section 201, and electrically connected to the control circuit in the array substrate 100. This design avoids the need for additional leads in the display area, thereby effectively preventing display mura problems caused by leads. Simultaneously, since the via is located on the pixel definition section 201, it does not occupy additional display area, which is beneficial for achieving a high pixel density display panel design. Other functional film layers 600 are also provided on the side of the optical adjustment layer 500 facing away from the array substrate 100, which can be used for encapsulation or optical removal.

[0058] Furthermore, as a preferred embodiment, the adjustment section 501 is electrically connected to the circuitry in the array substrate 100 via a via on the pixel definition section 201. Specifically, a via is formed in the pixel definition section 201, penetrating the pixel definition section 201, with its bottom exposed to a pre-defined electrode or signal line in the array substrate 100. A portion of the adjustment section 501 extends into the via, forming an electrical connection with the circuitry in the array substrate 100. Through this connection, the control circuitry in the array substrate 100 can apply a voltage signal to the adjustment section 501, thereby controlling the expansion state of the adjustment section 501.

[0059] In this embodiment, by directly wiring the adjustment section 501 to the interior of the array substrate 100 via a via on the pixel definition section 201, additional wiring is avoided above the pixel definition layer 200 or inside the display area, thereby eliminating display mura problems caused by wire reflection, scattering, or occlusion. Simultaneously, this design simplifies the manufacturing process of the display panel and improves product yield and reliability.

[0060] This application further provides a preferred embodiment in which the light-emitting unit 301 includes a first type of light-emitting unit and a second type of light-emitting unit.

[0061] The optical adjustment unit is arranged around the first type of light-emitting unit, meaning that the optical adjustment unit is positioned around the first type of light-emitting unit to adjust the emitted light from the first type of light-emitting unit, thus achieving a privacy protection function. The second type of light-emitting unit is spaced at a preset distance from the optical adjustment unit; that is, no optical adjustment unit is positioned around the second type of light-emitting unit, or the optical adjustment unit maintains a certain distance from the second type of light-emitting unit. The first type of light-emitting unit can be a light-emitting unit 301 in the display panel that requires privacy protection, such as a light-emitting unit 301 located in the center area of ​​the display area or a sensitive information display area. The second type of light-emitting unit 301 can be a light-emitting unit 301 that does not require privacy protection, such as a light-emitting unit 301 located at the edge of the display area, or a light-emitting unit 301 used to display auxiliary information (such as a status bar, notification bar, etc.). The specific value of the preset distance can be selected according to the design requirements of the display panel. By setting the preset distance, it can be ensured that the optical adjustment unit will not adversely affect the normal display of the second type of light-emitting unit 301.

[0062] When a user activates the privacy function of an electronic device (such as a smartphone), the system applies a first voltage signal simultaneously or as needed to the first traces of all columns via the column drive circuit. This voltage signal is applied to the adjustment section 501 of each optical adjustment unit through a conductive part. Under the action of a strong electric field, the adjustment section 501 undergoes the Maxwell stress effect, resulting in in-plane compression and expansion in the thickness direction. However, due to the constraints of the upper and lower electrodes and the anisotropic properties of the material itself, the material mainly expands significantly along the direction pointing towards the center of the pixel opening 202 it surrounds (i.e., the horizontal direction). After expansion, the adjustment section 501 switches from the first state to the second state, with its edge extending above the pixel opening 202, and its orthographic projection on the array substrate 100 overlaps with the orthographic projection of the pixel opening 100 in terms of area.

[0063] As the adjustment section 501 of the optical adjustment unit expands, the effective light-emitting aperture of the pixel opening 202 is compressed. Light rays emitted at large angles are blocked by the expanded adjustment section 501, allowing only light rays emitted in the forward direction to pass through smoothly. This switches the display panel from wide-viewing-angle mode to narrow-viewing-angle privacy mode, effectively protecting the user's screen privacy. When it is necessary to switch back to wide-viewing-angle mode, the first voltage signal is removed, and the optical adjustment unit returns to its first state under the elasticity of the material itself. The expanded portion retracts, the pixel opening is no longer blocked, and the display panel returns to normal wide-viewing-angle display.

[0064] In this embodiment, by classifying the light-emitting units 301 and selectively arranging optical adjustment units around some of the light-emitting units 301, differentiated privacy control for different areas of the display panel can be achieved. For example, the privacy function can be activated in areas displaying sensitive information, while maintaining a wide viewing angle mode in areas displaying public information, thus improving the flexibility and practicality of the privacy function.

[0065] This embodiment further defines the above embodiment. In this embodiment, a light-transmitting portion 505 is provided between two adjustment portions 501 located on the side of adjacent pixel definition portions 201 facing away from the array substrate 100. The orthogonal projection of the light-transmitting portion 505 onto the array substrate 100 covers the orthogonal projection of the pixel opening 202 onto the substrate.

[0066] Specifically, a pixel opening 202 is provided between two adjacent pixel defining portions 201. A light-transmitting portion 505 is provided between the adjusting portions 501 on the two pixel defining portions 201 (i.e., in the area above the pixel opening 202). The light-transmitting portion 505 is made of a material with high light transmittance, such as transparent resin or transparent optical adhesive.

[0067] The orthographic projection of the light-transmitting portion 505 onto the array substrate 100 covers the orthographic projection of the pixel opening 202 onto the array substrate 100. That is, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the array substrate 100, the light-transmitting portion 505 completely covers the area of ​​the pixel opening 202. The function of the light-transmitting portion 505 is to ensure that the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 301 can be smoothly emitted to the outside of the display panel without being blocked by the adjustment portion 501 or other structures.

[0068] In this embodiment, the thickness of the light-transmitting portion 505 may be the same as or different from the thickness of the adjusting portion 501. Preferably, the thickness of the light-transmitting portion 505 is the same as the thickness of the adjusting portion 501 to ensure the flatness of the optical adjusting layer 500. Additionally, an encapsulation layer 400 is provided between the light-transmitting portion 505 and the light-emitting unit 301. The encapsulation layer 400 can ensure that the light-emitting unit 301 is isolated from external moisture, improving the service life and yield of the light-emitting unit 301. The light-transmitting portion 505 is preferably made of a deformable material, ensuring that the light-transmitting portion 505 can be compressed when the adjusting portion 501 expands.

[0069] Through the above structural design and driving method, the display panel and electronic device of this application realize flexible, fast and uniform switching between wide viewing angle and privacy viewing angle, which greatly improves the user's privacy protection experience in different usage scenarios.

[0070] A second aspect of this application provides an electronic device including the display panel described above.

[0071] Electronic devices can be mobile or fixed terminals with display panels, such as mobile phones, televisions, tablets, laptops, Ultra-Mobile Personal Computers (UMPCs), Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), navigation devices, smartwatches, and virtual reality devices.

[0072] An exemplary electronic device includes a terminal device body and a display panel. The display panel is disposed on the terminal device body and electrically connected to the terminal device body. The display panel is the display panel described in the foregoing embodiments, used to display static or dynamic images.

[0073] Since the electronic device includes the aforementioned display panel, it possesses all the beneficial effects of the aforementioned display panel, which will not be elaborated upon here.

[0074] In this embodiment, the electronic device may further include a control module, which is electrically connected to the first and second control circuits in the display panel. The control module sends control signals to the control circuits to control the expansion state of the optical adjustment unit. Users can select to enable or disable the privacy function via the electronic device's user interface (such as a touchscreen, physical buttons, etc.). The control module sends voltage signals to the corresponding control circuits based on the user's selection, enabling the display panel to switch between wide-viewing-angle mode and narrow-viewing-angle mode.

[0075] Through the above structural design and driving method, the display panel and electronic device of this application realize flexible, fast and uniform switching between wide viewing angle and privacy viewing angle, which greatly improves the user's privacy protection experience in different usage scenarios.

[0076] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0077] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0078] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A display panel, characterized in that, include: Array substrate; A pixel definition layer includes a plurality of pixel definition parts, at least some of which enclose a pixel opening; The light-emitting layer includes a plurality of light-emitting units, at least some of which are disposed in the pixel opening; An optical adjustment layer includes multiple optical adjustment units disposed on the side of the pixel definition layer opposite to the array substrate. Each optical adjustment unit includes an adjustment part, and each adjustment part is disposed around the pixel opening. The optical adjustment unit includes a first state and a second state. After receiving a first voltage signal, the optical adjustment unit is configured to expand in the direction pointing to the pixel opening to form the second state. The orthographic projection of the optical adjustment unit in the second state onto the array substrate covers the orthographic projection of the optical adjustment unit in the first state onto the array substrate.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least a portion of the pixel opening corresponds to two optical adjustment units, and the two optical adjustment units are respectively located on both sides of the pixel opening along a first direction, the first direction being the direction intersecting with a second direction, and the second direction being the column direction of the light-emitting unit; Preferably, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

3. The display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that, The optical adjustment unit includes a conductive part, which is disposed on the side of the adjustment part away from the pixel opening along the plane of the substrate. The conductive part is electrically connected to the circuit in the array substrate through a via on the pixel definition part. Preferably, the conductive portion and the adjusting portion have the same thickness along the thickness direction of the array substrate.

4. The display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that, An insulating layer is provided between two conductive portions located on the side of the same pixel definition portion away from the array substrate; Preferably, the insulating layer is positioned within the orthographic projection of the pixel definition portion onto the array substrate.

5. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The optical adjustment unit in the second state overlaps with the orthographic projection of the pixel opening onto the array substrate.

6. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The orthographic projection of the optical adjustment unit in the first state onto the array substrate does not overlap with the orthographic projection of the pixel opening onto the array substrate.

7. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, An encapsulation layer is provided between the pixel definition layer and the optical adjustment layer, and at least a portion of the encapsulation layer is provided on the side of the optical unit facing away from the array substrate.

8. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, A light-transmitting portion is provided between two adjustment portions located on the side of adjacent pixel definition portions away from the array substrate, and the light-transmitting portion is made of a deformable material.

9. The display panel according to claim 3, characterized in that, The conductive portion includes a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion, wherein the first conductive portion is located on a first side of the pixel opening along the first direction, and at least a portion of the conductive portion is electrically connected through a first control circuit. The conductive portions, at least partially located on the second side of the different pixel openings along the first direction, are electrically connected via a second control circuit. Preferably, the direction of the lead-out line of the first conductive part to the first control circuit is opposite to the direction of the lead-out line of the second conductive part to the second control circuit; Preferably, the first control circuit and the second control circuit are arranged in parallel.

10. An electronic device, characterized in that, Includes the display panel as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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