Pixel arrangement structure, display panel and preparation method thereof

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a pixel arrangement structure, which has a repeating unit composed of six pixels arranged in a first direction in sequence, wherein each pixel is composed of a first region and a second region arranged in a second direction, and the first regions and the second regions of the six pixels are respectively aligned in the first direction, wherein the second regions of the first, third and fifth pixels and the first regions of the second, fourth and sixth pixels are each composed of a first sub-region and a second sub-region arranged in the first direction, and each pixel includes sub-pixels of three colors arranged in one region and two sub-regions respectively. In the first direction, adjacent pixels have adjacent same-color sub-pixels. The present disclosure also provides a display panel having the pixel arrangement structure and a preparation method thereof.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of display technology, and in particular to pixel arrangement structures, display panels and their manufacturing methods. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, light-emitting diode (LED) display panels have attracted widespread attention. Typically, LED display panels contain layers of light-emitting materials that emit different colors to form sub-pixels of various colors. The light-emitting material layers can be deposited using masks, such as high-precision metal masks (FMMs). The light-emitting material is deposited onto the substrate through patterned mask openings, thereby forming the desired pixel arrangement structure.

[0003] As people's demands for display quality become increasingly stringent, and with technological advancements, the need for high-resolution display panels is becoming increasingly apparent. However, in the deposition process for forming display panels, pixel resolution is limited by the mask. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In one aspect, this disclosure provides a pixel arrangement structure, wherein the pixel arrangement structure includes an array of repeating units arranged repeatedly in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0005] The repeating unit is composed of first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth pixels arranged sequentially in the first direction.

[0006] Each of the first to sixth pixels is composed of a first region and a second region arranged in the second direction, and the first and second regions of the first to sixth pixels are respectively aligned in the first direction. The second regions of the first, third, and fifth pixels, as well as the first regions of the second, fourth, and sixth pixels, are each composed of a first sub-region and a second sub-region arranged in the first direction.

[0007] in,

[0008] In the first pixel, its first region is a first color sub-pixel, its second region's first sub-region is a second color sub-pixel, and its second region's second sub-region is a third color sub-pixel;

[0009] In the second pixel, the first sub-region of its first region is the first color sub-pixel, the second sub-region of its first region is the second color sub-pixel, and the second region is the third color sub-pixel;

[0010] In the third pixel, its first region is the second color sub-pixel, its second region's first sub-region is the third color sub-pixel, and its second region's second sub-region is the first color sub-pixel;

[0011] In the fourth pixel, the first sub-region of its first region is the second color sub-pixel, the second sub-region of its first region is the third color sub-pixel, and the second region of its second region is the first color sub-pixel;

[0012] In the fifth pixel, its first region is the third color sub-pixel, its second region's first sub-region is the first color sub-pixel, and its second region's second sub-region is the second color sub-pixel;

[0013] In the sixth pixel, the first sub-region of its first region is the third color sub-pixel, the second sub-region of its first region is the first color sub-pixel, and the second region is the second color sub-pixel.

[0014] Optionally, the resolution of the pixel arrangement structure is 250ppi or higher.

[0015] Optionally, in the first direction, the distance between adjacent pixels is in the range of 10-35 μm.

[0016] Optionally, in the second direction, the closest distance between sub-pixels of the same color in different regions is in the range of 10-35 μm.

[0017] Optionally, in at least one pixel, the light-emitting areas of the first region and the second region are different, or the light-emitting areas of the first sub-region and the second sub-region are different.

[0018] Optionally, the first color, the second color, and the third color are red, green, and blue, respectively.

[0019] In the first region of the first, third, and fifth pixels and the second region of the second, fourth, and sixth pixels, the area of ​​the blue sub-pixel is larger than the area of ​​the red sub-pixel, which is larger than the area of ​​the green sub-pixel.

[0020] In the first and second sub-regions of the first to sixth pixels, the area of ​​the blue sub-pixel is larger than the area of ​​the red sub-pixel, which is larger than the area of ​​the green sub-pixel.

[0021] Optionally, subpixels of the same color have the same length in the second direction.

[0022] Optionally, at least two sub-pixels of different colors have different lengths in the second direction.

[0023] In another aspect, this disclosure provides a display panel having the above-described pixel arrangement structure, wherein each sub-pixel of the display panel includes opposing pixel electrodes and a light-emitting material layer and a pixel defining layer located between the pixel electrodes, wherein, in the first direction, the light-emitting material layers of adjacent sub-pixels of the same color are continuous.

[0024] Optionally, the total aperture ratio of pixels in the display area is 20% or more.

[0025] Optionally, the sub-pixel is defined within the region defined by the pixel defining layer by the overlapping region of the pixel electrode and the light-emitting material layer.

[0026] Optionally, in the repeating unit, the driving units of the first color sub-pixel are arranged along the first column in the first direction, the driving units of the second color sub-pixel are arranged along the second column in the first direction, and the driving units of the third color sub-pixel are arranged along the third column in the first direction, wherein the first column, the second column, and the third column are staggered in the second direction.

[0027] Optionally, the display panel is an organic light-emitting diode display panel or a quantum dot light-emitting diode display panel.

[0028] Optionally, the display panel is a sub-millimeter light-emitting diode display panel or a micrometer light-emitting diode display panel.

[0029] In another aspect, this disclosure provides a display device comprising the aforementioned display panel.

[0030] In another aspect, this disclosure provides a method for preparing the aforementioned display panel, the method comprising depositing a continuous layer of luminescent material of the same color using a mask having staggered openings.

[0031] Optionally, different colored luminescent material layers can be deposited using masks with different opening sizes and / or different opening spacings. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 This illustrates a typical RGB pixel arrangement structure.

[0033] Figure 2 An RGB pixel arrangement structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0034] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of a pixel structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0035] Figure 4 (a) and (b) show the mask used in this disclosure and existing masks.

[0036] Figure 5 (a) and (b) show schematic diagrams of the RGB pixel arrangement structure and the mask openings used in one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 6 The arrangement of the drive units in one embodiment is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0038] A typical pixel arrangement uses individual pixels as repeating units. These repeating pixels are arranged repeatedly in a first and second mutually perpendicular direction, forming an array. Each pixel contains three color sub-pixels, such as red, green, and blue (R, G, B) sub-pixels. In the first direction, sub-pixels of one color are repeated. In the second direction, sub-pixels of all three colors are arranged alternately.

[0039] Figure 1 This diagram illustrates a typical RGB pixel arrangement. The dashed box in the upper left corner of the diagram shows a repeating unit of this pixel arrangement, which is a single pixel. The pixels are repeated in the first direction (X) and the second direction. Figure 1 The diagram shows a 4×2 pixel structure. Each pixel contains one RGB subpixel. In the X direction, subpixels of one color are repeated. In the Y direction, RGB subpixels are arranged alternately.

[0040] In this disclosure, the ordinal numbers “first”, “second”, etc. are used only to distinguish different features with the same name, and not to impose any other limitation on the features being represented.

[0041] In this disclosure, for convenience, the first direction and the second direction are sometimes referred to as the column direction and the row direction, or sometimes as the X direction and the Y direction. It should be understood that this is only for descriptive convenience. X and Y, or column and row, can be interchanged without substantially affecting the technical solution.

[0042] In a light-emitting diode (LED) display panel, opposing pixel electrodes, an emissive material layer, and optional carrier injection and transport layers form a diode structure. Carriers are supplied from the pixel electrodes to the emissive material layer to achieve pixel light emission. In order to... Figure 1 The pixel arrangement structure shown allows for the deposition of a light-emitting material layer onto each sub-pixel region using a mask. However, the sub-pixel size is constrained by the mask's precision. The openings in the mask obstruct the deposition path of the organic material layer, creating gaps between the organic material layers deposited at different openings. Since no light-emitting material exists in these gap areas, they cannot emit light. Therefore, to improve resolution, the spacing between the light-emitting material layers of adjacent sub-pixels of the same color in the X-direction needs to be minimized. This requires the corresponding obstruction portion of the mask to be narrowed. However, due to dimensional limitations imposed by material properties and fabrication processes, the mask cannot be arbitrarily narrowed, making further resolution improvements difficult. Currently, it is difficult to exceed 300 ppi in resolution.

[0043] To overcome the problem of insufficient luminescent material deposition in the obstructed areas between mask openings, the mask can be designed so that one opening corresponds to one column of sub-pixels. This involves depositing a continuous strip of large-area luminescent material to form multiple sub-pixels. In this case, the actual luminescent areas of each sub-pixel can be separated by adding pixel-limiting layers between them. For example, raised pixel-limiting layers can be formed between the sub-pixels beforehand, followed by a luminescent material layer covering all sub-pixels in a column, thus confining the luminescent area of ​​each sub-pixel to the area enclosed by the pixel-limiting layers. However, forming an entire column of sub-pixels from a single mask opening requires extremely high mask level precision, making it practically impossible to use for forming large-area display panels. Furthermore, this approach struggles to avoid lateral crosstalk of charge carriers within the luminescent material layer. When one sub-pixel is lit, it may affect the luminescent material layer within a radius of several surrounding sub-pixels, thus impacting display quality.

[0044] This disclosure proposes a novel pixel arrangement structure that optimizes the pixel arrangement method, at least partially solving the resolution limitation problem caused by the mask mentioned above. The pixel arrangement structure of this disclosure can achieve excellent display effects while increasing the pixel aperture ratio and thus improving resolution.

[0045] In one embodiment, this disclosure provides a pixel arrangement structure, wherein the pixel arrangement structure includes an array of repeating units arranged repeatedly in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0046] The repeating unit is composed of first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth pixels arranged sequentially in the first direction.

[0047] Each of the first to sixth pixels is composed of a first region and a second region arranged in the second direction, and the first and second regions of the first to sixth pixels are respectively aligned in the first direction. The second regions of the first, third, and fifth pixels, as well as the first regions of the second, fourth, and sixth pixels, are each composed of a first sub-region and a second sub-region arranged in the first direction.

[0048] in,

[0049] In the first pixel, its first region is a first color sub-pixel, its second region's first sub-region is a second color sub-pixel, and its second region's second sub-region is a third color sub-pixel;

[0050] In the second pixel, the first sub-region of its first region is the first color sub-pixel, the second sub-region of its first region is the second color sub-pixel, and the second region is the third color sub-pixel;

[0051] In the third pixel, its first region is the second color sub-pixel, its second region's first sub-region is the third color sub-pixel, and its second region's second sub-region is the first color sub-pixel;

[0052] In the fourth pixel, the first sub-region of its first region is the second color sub-pixel, the second sub-region of its first region is the third color sub-pixel, and the second region of its second region is the first color sub-pixel;

[0053] In the fifth pixel, its first region is the third color sub-pixel, its second region's first sub-region is the first color sub-pixel, and its second region's second sub-region is the second color sub-pixel;

[0054] In the sixth pixel, the first sub-region of its first region is the third color sub-pixel, the second sub-region of its first region is the first color sub-pixel, and the second region is the second color sub-pixel.

[0055] Figure 2 An RGB pixel arrangement structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 2 In the diagram, the first direction is represented by the X direction, which is the downward column direction; the second direction is represented by the Y direction, which is the rightward row direction.

[0056] Figure 2 The image shows two repeating units arranged in the Y direction. It can be understood that the repeating units are arranged repeatedly in both row and column directions within the display surface, thus forming an array to achieve display.

[0057] exist Figure 2 A repeating unit is indicated on the left by a large dashed box, which consists of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth pixels arranged sequentially in the first direction.

[0058] like Figure 2 As shown, in a repeating unit, the first to sixth pixels are arranged from top to bottom, each indicated by a smaller dashed box.

[0059] Each pixel consists of a first region and a second region arranged in the Y direction. The first and second regions of the first to sixth pixels are aligned in the X direction, wherein the second regions of the first, third, and fifth pixels, as well as the first regions of the second, fourth, and sixth pixels, are each composed of a first sub-region and a second sub-region arranged in the X direction.

[0060] like Figure 2 The first pixel shown has a first region on the left and a second region on the right. Similarly, the second through sixth pixels also have a first region on the left and a second region on the right. All first regions are aligned in the X direction, and all second regions are also aligned in the X direction.

[0061] Specifically, the second regions of the first, third, and fifth pixels, and the first regions of the second, fourth, and sixth pixels, are each composed of two sub-regions. Thus, each pixel has one whole region and one region composed of two sub-regions. The whole region and the combined region are arranged alternately.

[0062] In this disclosure, staggered arrangement refers to the existence of identical elements that are translated along a second direction between adjacent elements in a first direction. For example, between the overall regions of the first pixel and the third pixel (i.e., the first region of the first pixel and the first region of the third pixel), there exists an overall region (i.e., the second region of the second pixel) that is translated along the second direction.

[0063] In this disclosure, each pixel contains three color subpixels: a first color, a second color, and a third color subpixel. Pixels with three color subpixels can meet the requirements of true-color display. Examples of three-color subpixels include RGB subpixels. However, the specific form and arrangement of the subpixels differ in the first through sixth pixels.

[0064] In the first pixel, the first region is the first color sub-pixel. Figure 2 In this first pixel, the first color subpixel is denoted by I, and this first color subpixel occupies the first region on the left. Furthermore, the first sub-region of the second region is the second color subpixel, denoted by II, and its second sub-region is the third color subpixel, denoted by III. The second and third color subpixels each occupy only one sub-region. In this disclosure, sometimes a subpixel that occupies a full region is called a large subpixel, while a subpixel that occupies only one sub-region and forms a region with another color subpixel is called a small subpixel. Thus, in the first pixel, the left side is the first color large subpixel, and the right side is the second and third color small subpixels.

[0065] The subpixel settings of the second pixel below the first pixel in the first pixel are different from those of the first pixel. It consists of a large subpixel of the third color on the right and small subpixels of the first and second colors on the left. The rule between the second pixel and the first pixel is that a large subpixel of the same color is set below the small subpixel of the pixel above it (i.e., the first pixel). Figure 2 The middle pixel is the third color), and a smaller subpixel of the same color is placed below the larger subpixel above it. Figure 2 The middle color is the first color), and then in the sub-region below this small sub-pixel, a small sub-pixel with a different color than the two colors mentioned above is set ( Figure 2 (The middle color is the second color).

[0066] Set the pixels below using the same pattern. In the third pixel, set the second color large sub-pixel below the second color small sub-pixel of the second pixel, set the third color small sub-pixel below the third color large sub-pixel of the second pixel, and then set the first color small sub-pixel in the sub-area below this small sub-pixel.

[0067] After setting the fourth, fifth, and sixth pixels in sequence, a repeating unit is formed. The next pixel in the X direction will be the same as the first pixel. Thus, each pixel includes three sub-pixels of different colors arranged in one area and two sub-areas respectively. In the first direction, adjacent pixels have adjacent sub-pixels of the same color.

[0068] In the pixel arrangement structure disclosed herein, each pixel includes three sub-pixels of different colors. Compared to some pixel designs that omit sub-pixel colors or share sub-pixels and data lines, the scheme disclosed herein displays each sub-pixel in true color (Real RGB), resulting in better display quality. Although the areas of large and small pixels within each pixel differ, the issue of varying sub-pixel areas can be addressed in practical applications by adjusting the independent driving unit of each sub-pixel to control the luminous intensity.

[0069] The pixel arrangement structure disclosed herein can be further described as follows. Each large subpixel is flanked by smaller subpixels of the same color, aligned with it, forming a "strip" in a first direction. Thus, the luminescent material layers in the large subpixel and the smaller subpixels at both ends of a strip can be formed through the same mask opening. Each strip is surrounded by strips of other colors.

[0070] Figure 2 The image shows a second-color stripe within the repeating unit on the right, enclosed in a dashed box. This stripe comprises a large central sub-pixel and smaller sub-pixels above and below it, belonging to the third, second, and fourth pixels, respectively. All sub-pixels surrounding this stripe are not second-color. Each stripe is sufficiently spaced from its neighboring stripes of the same color, which is highly advantageous for performing luminescent material deposition via a mask.

[0071] Figure 2 This is merely a schematic diagram of the pixel arrangement. In the diagram, two small sub-pixels in the same area are drawn as adjacent. However, there can be gaps between them.

[0072] The luminescent material in one strip of this disclosure is deposited continuously; therefore, in order to distribute it among three pixels, the pixel electrode structure needs to be configured. Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of a pixel structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0073] Figure 3 The image shows a... Figure 2 The diagram shows a schematic cross-section along line A-A' of the second color strip in one embodiment of the pixel arrangement structure of the display panel. The X direction is indicated in the diagram. Figure 3 The left side corresponds to Figure 2 Above and to the right of the middle correspond to Figure 2 Below.

[0074] like Figure 3 As shown, a pixel arrangement structure is formed on a TFT substrate. The TFT substrate is... Figure 3 The diagram is simplified and schematically illustrated, including, for example, a base layer 1, thin-film transistors (TFTs), and other film layers 2, which can have a conventional structure. Four TFTs are shown in the figure, where TFT 1 is used for... Figure 2 In the stripe, TFT1 is the TFT for the second color sub-pixel of the first region of the fourth pixel, TFT2 is the TFT for the second color large sub-pixel of the first region of the third pixel, TFT1 is the TFT for the second color small sub-pixel of the first region of the second pixel, and TFT4 is the TFT for the first color small sub-pixel of the first region of the second pixel. Details of the TFTs are not shown here, but they can conventionally include source, drain, gate, and semiconductor layers, etc. Furthermore, the bottom layer may include a substrate layer, buffer layer, reflective layer, etc., and other film layers may include interlayer dielectric layers, insulating layers, etc.

[0075] A planarization layer 3 can be formed on the TFT substrate, and the anode 4 passes through a via in the planarization layer and connects to the drain of the TFT. Five anodes are shown in the figure, each used as a... Figure 2 The pixel electrodes in the first region of the second, third, and fourth pixels.

[0076] After the anode 4 is formed, a pixel defining layer 5 is formed. The pixel defining layer is an insulating material used to define the range of each sub-pixel. Subsequently, light-emitting material layers 61, 62, and 63 of the first, second, and third colors can be deposited respectively using a mask. Next, a common cathode 7 and an encapsulation structure 8, such as a cover plate, are formed.

[0077] It should be understood that carrier injection / carrier transport layers, etc., can be formed before or after the formation of the luminescent material layer. For simplicity, in Figure 3 These conventional film layers are not shown. It should also be understood that display panels can also have conventional structures such as a color filter layer, a black matrix, and a protective layer. For simplicity, Figure 3 These conventional structures are not shown in the text.

[0078] The pixel arrangement structure disclosed herein allows a large sub-pixel of the same color and its two adjacent smaller sub-pixels to share a continuous light-emitting material layer. For example... Figure 3 In this configuration, the second-color luminescent material layer 62 is used in TFT1, TFT2, and TFT3. Although the luminescent material layers are continuous, the luminescent material layer at the pixel definition layer does not emit light due to the presence of the pixel definition layer. Furthermore, crosstalk between sub-pixels of the same color is confined to this strip and will not exceed its range. For example, Figure 2 The other second-color subpixels are completely separated from this strip and will not be affected by it. Therefore, high display quality can be guaranteed.

[0079] It should be understood that Figure 3 The connection between the driving unit and the pixel electrode shown is only illustrative. The TFT driving electrode may not be located directly below the pixel anode, but may be located at other suitable locations and connected to the pixel anode via wires.

[0080] The luminescent material layer of the pixel arrangement structure disclosed herein is distributed in a strip pattern, which is particularly advantageous for the process of depositing the luminescent material layer using a mask. This is because the mask used to form the pixel arrangement structure of this disclosure has several significant advantages over the mask used for conventional pixel arrangement structures.

[0081] Figure 4 (a) schematically illustrates the method used to form Figure 2 The local opening shape of the mask for the organic light-emitting layer of the second color stripe. In contrast, Figure 4 (b) shows the preparation Figure 1 A mask with strip-shaped openings.

[0082] As you can see, Figure 4 In (b), due to limitations in mask material and fabrication process precision, a certain distance must be maintained between the two openings in the vertical direction used for depositing the same color luminescent material. Within this distance, luminescent material cannot be deposited, thus limiting pixel resolution. Designing the mask openings to extend through the entire display area to avoid this distance is unacceptable from a mechanical strength standpoint. In contrast, the pixel arrangement structure suitable for this disclosure... Figure 4 In the mask of (a), the spacing between sub-pixels is not affected by the mask opening spacing. Therefore, under the same mask technology level, the pixel arrangement of this disclosure does not require a large spacing between sub-pixels to achieve higher resolution.

[0083] Furthermore, the staggered mask opening design disclosed herein can also prevent "mask wrinkles." Because... Figure 4 In (b), the mask openings are in multiple parallel columns, thus its strength is affected in the direction perpendicular to the columns. For example... Figure 4 The mask shown in (b) exhibits a region of significant intensity fluctuation in the lateral direction, making it prone to wrinkling under pressure. The longer the opening, or the smaller the spacing between openings in the longitudinal direction, the more pronounced the effect. Therefore, not only for large-area display panels, but also for small-area display panels, the risk of wrinkling necessitates a limitation on the opening length, inevitably resulting in a larger spacing between openings that affects resolution. In contrast, Figure 4(a) The pixel arrangement structure disclosed herein makes the mask openings discontinuous in the vertical direction and spaced apart in the horizontal direction, which greatly improves the lateral strength of the mask and prevents wrinkling problems. As a result, the requirements for mask process level are also reduced, which can greatly simplify the process and reduce costs.

[0084] As described above, this disclosure designs a pixel arrangement structure that allows a single color of luminescent material strip to be shared by three adjacent pixels. Each pixel still has three-color sub-pixels, enabling Real RGB true-color display. When forming the luminescent material strip using mask deposition, higher resolution can be achieved with the same mask precision, or the mask precision requirement can be reduced with the same resolution. The luminescent material strip limits lateral crosstalk to only three sub-pixels, ensuring display quality.

[0085] In one embodiment, the resolution of the pixel arrangement structure can be 250 ppi or higher, preferably 320 ppi or higher, more preferably 400 ppi or higher, and most preferably up to 600 ppi. The resolution of the pixel arrangement structure disclosed herein can be much greater than 300 ppi. The specific resolution is related not only to the size of the same-color luminescent material deposited through the mask, but can also be adjusted by the pixel-defined layer gap (PDL gap), specific process parameters, etc.

[0086] In one implementation, the distance between adjacent pixels in the first direction is in the range of 10-35 μm. In other words, the spacing between large and small sub-pixels of the same color in adjacent pixels can be reduced to this range. In comparison, Figure 1 In pixel arrangement schemes, it is difficult to achieve such a small spacing between sub-pixels of the same color in adjacent pixels.

[0087] In one embodiment, in the second direction, the closest distance between sub-pixels of the same color in different regions is in the range of 10-35 μm. The pixel arrangement structure of this disclosure employs an interleaved arrangement; therefore, sub-pixels of the same color in different regions have sufficient distance between them in the first direction, allowing them to be even closer together in the second direction. For example, as... Figure 2 As shown, because in the first direction, below the first color sub-pixel of the first region of the second pixel and above the first color sub-pixel of the second region of the third pixel, there are also second color sub-pixels of the first region of the second pixel and third color sub-pixels of the second region of the third pixel, these two first color sub-pixels have a sufficiently large spacing in the first direction. In this case, even if the spacing between the first and second regions is small, they will not interfere with each other, and a high-specification mask is not required. Conversely, if a similar... Figure 1Even if an attempt is made to avoid consecutive arrangement of sub-pixels of the same color in the first direction by sequentially shifting the three-color sub-pixels, the sub-pixels of the same color still cannot be spaced out in the diagonal direction, and a high-specification mask is still required.

[0088] Figure 2 In the pixel arrangement structure shown, the first region and the second region can be of equal size, and the first sub-region and the second sub-region can also be of equal size. In this case, the same mask can be used simultaneously for the deposition of luminescent materials of three colors, eliminating the need for a separate mask for each color, thereby simplifying the process and reducing costs.

[0089] However, to further improve display quality, the areas of the first region, the second region, the first sub-region, and the second sub-region can be adjusted appropriately as needed. Preferably, in at least one pixel, the light-emitting areas of the first region and the second region are different, or the light-emitting areas of the first sub-region and the second sub-region are different. More preferably, the light-emitting areas can be specifically set for the eighteen sub-pixels of six pixels.

[0090] Conventionally, RGB subpixels are used to achieve color display. With current technology, the luminous efficacy of RGB light-emitting materials differs, with blue typically being weaker and green the strongest. In one implementation, the first, second, and third colors are red, green, and blue, respectively. In the first region of the first, third, and fifth pixels, and the second region of the second, fourth, and sixth pixels, the blue subpixel area is larger than the red subpixel area, which is larger than the green subpixel area. Similarly, in the first and second sub-regions of the first to sixth pixels, the blue subpixel area is larger than the red subpixel area, which is larger than the green subpixel area. In other words, within the same type of subpixel in a repeating unit, the blue subpixel area is set to the largest, the green subpixel area to the smallest, and the red subpixel area to be in the middle. By differentiating the subpixel areas, the uniformity of the display is improved.

[0091] Accordingly, a mask with a larger opening can be selected for blue luminescent materials, while a mask with a smaller opening can be selected for green luminescent materials.

[0092] In one implementation, within a repeating unit, subpixels of the same color have the same length in the second direction. Alternatively, a large subpixel has the same "width" as the smaller subpixels of the same color on either side. This is advantageous for forming luminescent material strips of constant width using a mask with rectangular openings. Of course, subpixels of the same color can also be designed with different widths, but this may place higher demands on the mask opening fabrication process.

[0093] In one implementation, within a repeating unit, sub-pixels of different colors have different lengths in the second direction. For example, in... Figure 2 In a similar pixel arrangement structure, the first, second, and third color subpixels in the first region of the first, third, and fifth pixels can have different lengths. This allows for different areas of the different color subpixels.

[0094] Preferably, the openings differ only in the first direction, while remaining the same in the second direction. That is, the sub-pixel widths are all the same, but their lengths differ. In this way, the sub-pixel area is adjusted only by the length in the first direction.

[0095] Figure 5 (a) illustrates an implementation with RGB stripes of varying lengths. It can be seen that the final display area of ​​each region and sub-region of a pixel can be adjusted, for example, by a pixel-defining layer. Figure 5 (b) shows, from left to right, the methods used for forming Figure 5 In the pixel arrangement structure of (a), the aperture sizes of the masks used for depositing blue, red, and green luminescent material layers are determined. Specifically, the blue stripe can be deposited using the mask with the longest aperture, and the green stripe can be deposited using the mask with the shortest aperture. Correspondingly, among sub-pixels of the same type, the blue sub-pixel is the longest, and the green sub-pixel is the shortest. However, all sub-pixels have the same width.

[0096] Because the specific subpixel layouts of the six pixels in the repeating unit of this disclosure are different, the subpixel layout factors should be taken into account when actually driving the six pixels for better display quality. For example, in order to achieve better display quality... Figure 2 In the implementation shown, each pixel emits white light of equal intensity. The driving parameters can be set appropriately so that the overall luminous intensity of the first color sub-pixel in the first pixel is close to that of the overall luminous intensity of the first color sub-pixel in the second pixel, even though the former has a larger area than the latter.

[0097] and Figure 1 Compared to conventional pixel arrangement structures, the pixel arrangement structure disclosed herein can form a higher resolution display panel with a lower specification mask, and each pixel includes three-color sub-pixels to achieve true color display.

[0098] This disclosure also provides a display panel having the above-described pixel arrangement structure. The sub-pixels of the display panel include opposing pixel electrodes and a light-emitting material layer and a pixel defining layer located between the pixel electrodes. In the first direction, the light-emitting material layers of adjacent sub-pixels of the same color are continuous. As described above, by forming continuous light-emitting material strips, a higher resolution display panel can be formed with a lower-specification mask. See schematic diagram below. Figure 3 .

[0099] In one embodiment, in the display panel of this disclosure, under conventional process conditions with a pixel-defined layer wall width of 22 μm, the total pixel aperture ratio in the display area can reach 20% or more, preferably 22% or more, and more preferably 24% or more. In comparison, under the same process level, it has... Figure 1 The total aperture ratio of a display panel with a pixel arrangement structure is up to approximately 15%.

[0100] In a display panel, the light-emitting area of ​​a sub-pixel is determined by the pixel structure. Specifically, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the sub-pixel is defined by the overlapping area of ​​the pixel electrode and the light-emitting material layer within the region defined by the pixel limiting layer. The light-emitting material layer defines the maximum possible light-emitting area. Locations without a light-emitting material layer cannot emit light. However, the actual light-emitting area is also limited by the pixel electrode and the pixel limiting layer. Sufficient carrier emission is only possible in the overlapping portion of the pixel electrode and the light-emitting material layer, i.e., the overlapping portion of the pixel anode and pixel cathode light-emitting material layers. At the pixel limiting layer, the pixel anode cannot provide carriers to the light-emitting material layer and therefore cannot emit light. The desired pixel arrangement can be obtained by appropriately designing and adjusting the dimensions of the pixel electrode, the limiting layer, and the light-emitting material layer.

[0101] In this disclosure, the subpixel arrangement in the repeating unit is not uniform in area, therefore each subpixel requires an independent driving unit. In one embodiment, in the repeating unit, the driving units of the first color subpixel are arranged along a first column in the first direction, the driving units of the second color subpixel are arranged along a second column in the first direction, and the driving units of the third color subpixel are arranged along a third column in the first direction, wherein the first, second, and third columns are staggered in the second direction.

[0102] In other words, the driving units (such as TFTs) of the sub-pixels are not arranged at the corresponding positions of the sub-pixels, but are arranged according to color. Figure 6 It shows Figure 2 The illustrated embodiment uses one possible arrangement of driving units. The circles indicate the approximate top-view location of the driving unit for the corresponding sub-pixel. The driving units can be located in the TFT substrate below the pixel anode.

[0103] Therefore, the driving units for sub-pixels of the same color are arranged along the first direction and staggered in columns along the second direction, alternating between them. The driving units are then connected to the anode of each sub-pixel via lines. This layout facilitates the routing of data lines and the input of data signals to the driving units.

[0104] The pixel arrangement structure disclosed herein is generally applicable to any type of display panel because it can achieve RealRGB true color display. The pixel arrangement structure disclosed herein is particularly suitable for display panels in which a light-emitting material layer is formed using a mask during the formation of the pixel arrangement structure. In one embodiment, the display panel of this disclosure can be an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel. In another embodiment, the display panel of this disclosure can also be a quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) display panel. Display panels of the above types are particularly suitable for the deposition and fabrication of the light-emitting material layer using a mask. Furthermore, the display panel of this disclosure can achieve high resolution and can be a sub-millimeter light-emitting diode (mini LED) display panel or a micrometer light-emitting diode (micro LED) display panel.

[0105] This disclosure also provides a display device comprising the aforementioned display panel. This display device has the same advantages as the pixel arrangement structure and display panel described above, which will not be repeated here.

[0106] This disclosure also provides a method for fabricating the above-described display panel, the method comprising depositing a continuous light-emitting material layer of the same color using a mask having staggered openings. The staggered openings correspond to stripes of the continuous light-emitting material layer of the same color. The staggered openings allow for higher resolution to be achieved horizontally using the same masking process.

[0107] When the pixel arrangement structure is Figure 2 When the three sub-pixels have the same size, different colored luminescent material layers can be fabricated using the same mask. However, when the pixel design consists of three sub-pixels with different sizes, masks with different aperture sizes and / or different aperture spacings can be used to deposit luminescent material layers of different colors. That is, a separate mask is designed and fabricated for each of the three colors of sub-pixels. Figure 5 (b) This schematically illustrates that openings of different lengths exist for designs with different colors. Such openings can be set... Figure 4 In the mask of the structure shown in (a).

[0108] Comparative example

[0109] use Figure 4 (b) mask, deposition Figure 1 The image shows light-emitting material strips in the pixel arrangement structure. When the pixel-limiting layer wall width is approximately 22 μm, the results obtained using current mask technology... Figure 4 (b) The mask formed Figure 1 The pixel arrangement shown has a total pixel aperture ratio of approximately 15%, and the area ratio of blue, green, and red pixels is approximately 2.2:1.4:1. The final display panel has a resolution of approximately 216 ppi.

[0110] Example 1

[0111] Using the same mask fabrication and application process as the comparative example, Figure 4 (a) mask, deposition Figure 2 The image shows light-emitting material strips in the pixel arrangement structure. When the pixel-limiting layer wall width is approximately 22 μm, the results obtained using current mask technology... Figure 4 (a) The mask formed Figure 2 The pixel arrangement shown has a total pixel aperture ratio of approximately 23%, which is about 1.5 times that of the comparative example. The final display panel has a resolution of approximately 326 ppi.

[0112] Each sub-pixel is driven using an active matrix and a Real RGB display algorithm. The pixels of the display panel disclosed herein do not need to share data lines or sub-pixels. Upon power-up, uniform color display is achieved.

[0113] Example 2

[0114] Using the same method as in Example 1, the resolution reached 400ppi after further reducing the pixel-limiting layer width.

[0115] As can be seen, the embodiments disclosed herein can produce high-resolution display panels and achieve true color display under the same mask level.

[0116] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this disclosure, but the scope of protection of this disclosure is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this disclosure should be included within the scope of protection of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of this disclosure should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A display substrate comprising a plurality of pixel columns, wherein, Each of the pixel columns includes a plurality of pixels arranged along a first direction, and the plurality of pixel columns are arranged along a second direction. Each pixel includes a light-emitting area with three different colors. In the same pixel column, at least two adjacent pixels, which belong to the at least two adjacent pixels respectively, are adjacent to each other and have the same color, and are covered by the same light-emitting layer. The at least two light-emitting areas covered by the same light-emitting layer have different areas.

2. The display substrate according to claim 1, wherein, In a pixel column, at least one light-emitting area is provided with two light-emitting areas of the same color as the light-emitting area, so as to form three light-emitting areas arranged sequentially along the first direction, wherein the areas of the two light-emitting areas of the same color as the at least one light-emitting area are both smaller than the area of ​​the at least one light-emitting area.

3. The display substrate according to claim 2, wherein, Two light-emitting areas with the same color as the at least one light-emitting area are located on different sides of the at least one light-emitting area.

4. The display substrate according to claim 3, wherein, Two light-emitting areas that have the same color as the at least one light-emitting area have the same area.

5. The display substrate according to claim 1, wherein, In the first direction, the distance between adjacent pixels is 10 to 35 μm.

6. The display substrate according to claim 1, wherein, The length of at least one blue emitting layer in the first direction is greater than the length of at least one red emitting layer in the first direction, and the length of at least one blue emitting layer in the first direction is greater than the length of at least one green emitting layer in the first direction.

7. The display substrate according to claim 1, wherein, The length of at least one red emitting layer in the first direction is greater than the length of at least one green emitting layer in the first direction.

8. The display substrate according to claim 1, wherein, The display substrate includes a first pixel and a second pixel that are adjacent in the first direction. The first pixel includes a first light-emitting area having a first color, and the second pixel includes a second light-emitting area having the first color. The first light-emitting area and the second light-emitting area have different areas, wherein the first color is at least one of red, green and blue.

9. The display substrate according to claim 1, wherein, The at least two light-emitting areas with different areas have the same width in the second direction.

10. The display substrate according to claim 2, wherein, The three light-emitting areas arranged sequentially along the first direction have the same width in the second direction.

11. The display substrate according to claim 1, wherein, In a pixel column, the light-emitting areas are arranged in two columns extending along the first direction. In one column, the luminous area of ​​each pixel has one color, while in another column, the luminous area of ​​each pixel has two other colors.

12. The display substrate according to claim 11, wherein, In the second direction, the minimum distance between sub-pixels with the same color is 10–35 μm.

13. The display substrate according to claim 11, wherein, The display substrate includes: Planarization layer An anode is formed on the planarization layer, wherein the anode is electrically connected to the pixel through an anode connection hole in the planarization layer, and A pixel defining layer is formed on the anode, wherein the pixel defining layer has sub-pixel openings, and light-emitting areas of different colors are formed by light-emitting layers of different colors that at least cover the corresponding sub-pixel openings. The light-emitting area with the first color corresponds to the first anode and the first anode connection hole. The luminescent area with the second color corresponds to the second anode and the second anode connection hole. The luminescent area with the third color corresponds to the third anode and the third anode connection hole. Wherein, the projection of the first anode connection hole in the second direction falls within the projection of the first column of light-emitting areas in the second direction within the pixel column. The projection of the second anode connection hole in the second direction is located between the projections of the first column of light-emitting areas and the second column of light-emitting areas in the second direction of the pixel column. The projection of the third anode connection hole in the second direction is located on the side away from the first column along the centerline of the projection of the second column of light-emitting areas in the second direction. The first color, the second color, and the third color are selected from one of red, green, and blue, respectively.

14. The display substrate according to claim 13, wherein, The projection of the third anode connection hole in the second direction is located on the side of the projection of the second column of light-emitting area in the second direction that is away from the first column.

15. The display substrate according to claim 1, wherein, The minimum distance between the at least two luminescent regions covered by the same luminescent layer is 10 μm to 35 μm.

16. The display substrate according to claim 1, wherein, At least one luminescent layer of one color covers three luminescent areas, and at least two of the three luminescent areas have different areas.

17. The display substrate according to claim 1, wherein, A sub-pixel corresponding to one of the light-emitting areas is provided with an anode connection hole, and the projection of the anode connection hole on the display substrate is located within the projection of the pixel limiting layer on the display substrate.

18. The display substrate according to claim 1, wherein, A sub-pixel corresponding to one of the light-emitting areas is provided with an anode connection hole, and the projection of the anode connection hole on the display substrate overlaps with the projection of the light-emitting layer covering one of the light-emitting areas on the display substrate.

19. The display substrate according to claim 1, wherein, The pixel-defining layer between two adjacent luminescent areas is covered by a luminescent layer, or by at least two luminescent layers of different colors that overlap or contact each other.

20. The display substrate according to claim 1, wherein, All light-emitting areas are equipped with an integrated cathode.

Images