Display panel and display device

Abstract

The application discloses a display panel and a display device to improve the problem that the prior art touch-integrated display device is prone to short circuit of adjacent touch wires, resulting in touch failure. The display panel comprises a display area, the display area having a touch electrode; a dam structure, the dam structure surrounding the display area; a touch wire, the touch electrode being led out from the display area through the touch wire crossing the dam structure, the width of the touch wire at a climbing position crossing the dam structure being less than the width of the touch wire at other positions.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application. The original application has the application number 202080000201.5 and the original application date is February 27, 2020. The original application is entitled "A display panel and display device". The entire contents of the original application are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to the field of semiconductor technology, and more particularly to a display panel and display device. Background Technology

[0003] Active-matrix organic light-emitting diodes (AMOLEDs) have advantages such as being thin and light, having low power consumption, high contrast, high color gamut, and flexible display capabilities, and are widely used in the display industry.

[0004] In AMOLED products, Flexible Multi-Layer On Cell (FMLOC) displays are already a trending design. Compared to external touch screen panels (TSPs), they can significantly reduce costs, have higher integration, make products thinner and lighter, and are easier to fold.

[0005] However, existing touch-integrated display devices are prone to short circuits between adjacent touch traces, leading to touch failure. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention provides a display panel and display device to improve the problem that short circuits between adjacent touch traces are prone to occur in existing integrated touch display devices, leading to touch failure.

[0007] This invention provides a display panel, comprising: A display area having touch electrodes; A retaining wall structure that surrounds the display area; The touch electrode is led out from the display area through the touch trace that crosses the retaining wall structure. The width of the touch trace at the climbing position that crosses the retaining wall structure is smaller than the width of the touch trace at other positions.

[0008] In one possible implementation, the display panel has multiple of the barrier structures, and the same touch trace has the same width at the climbing positions that cross different barrier structures.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the different touch traces have the same width at the climbing position.

[0010] In one possible implementation, each of the touch traces has a cutout recessed inward from the outer edge of the touch trace at the climbing position.

[0011] In one possible implementation, each of the touch traces has two cutouts at one of the ramp locations, with the notches of the two cutouts facing away from each other.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the length of the cutout portion along the extension direction of the touch trace is greater than the length along the extension direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the touch trace.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the shape of the cutout portion is rectangular, square, semi-circular, semi-elliptical, or triangular.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the cutout portion is rectangular in shape; the length of the cutout portion along the direction perpendicular to the extension of the touch trace is one-tenth to one-fifth of the width of the touch trace.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the cutout portion has a length of 1 μm to 3 μm along the direction perpendicular to the extension of the touch trace.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the width of the cutout portion along the extension direction of the touch trace is 5μm to 15μm.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the display panel includes: a substrate, thin-film transistors, a light-emitting layer, and an encapsulation layer sequentially disposed on the substrate; wherein the touch traces are located on the side of the encapsulation layer opposite to the light-emitting layer.

[0018] This invention also provides a display device, including the display panel as described in this invention embodiment.

[0019] The beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present invention are as follows: The display panel provided by the embodiments of the present invention has a display area and a retaining wall structure surrounding the display area. The display area has touch electrodes, and the touch electrodes are led out from the display area through touch traces that cross the retaining wall structure. Specifically, the width of the touch trace at the ramp position crossing the retaining wall structure is smaller than the width of the touch trace at other positions. That is, because the touch trace has a large step difference when entering the display area (AA) from an external circuit (such as an FPC) and passing through the lower retaining wall structure (Dam), the touch trace is more effective in forming a touch sensor. When the metal film layer of the touch control traces is exposed, photoresist (PR) residue is prone to appear at the steep slope of the retaining wall structure. This causes photoresist residue to appear on the same film layer metal traces of different signals at the steep slope. After the photoresist is removed, metal residue will remain, causing short circuits between touch traces and leading to touch failure. By reducing the width of the touch traces at the slope position that crosses the retaining wall structure, the space between touch traces at the slope can be increased, reducing the short circuit rate, improving the yield, and improving the problem of short circuits between adjacent touch traces in integrated touch display devices, which can easily lead to touch failure. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 A top view schematic diagram of a display panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged illustration within the dashed box; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the touch control wiring at the retaining wall structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing that the same touch trace has the same width at different climbing positions, as provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the hollowed-out portion provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 A schematic diagram showing that the width of the hollowed-out portion varies in different extension directions, as provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 A schematic diagram showing that the hollowed-out portion is square, provided for an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram showing that the hollowed-out portion is semi-circular, as provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 A schematic diagram showing that the hollowed-out portion is semi-elliptical, provided for an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram showing that the hollowed-out part is triangular, as provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this disclosure clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the described embodiments of this disclosure without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0022] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in this disclosure shall have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. The terms “first,” “second,” and similar terms used in this disclosure do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms such as “comprising” or “including” mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the elements or objects listed following the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as “connected” or “linked” are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “left,” and “right” are used only to indicate relative positional relationships, and these relative positional relationships may change accordingly when the absolute position of the described objects changes.

[0023] To keep the following description of the embodiments of this disclosure clear and concise, detailed descriptions of known functions and known components are omitted.

[0024] See Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, Figure 2 for Figure 1 An enlarged view of the area within the dashed box. Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the touch control wiring at the slope location of the retaining wall structure. An embodiment of the present invention provides a display panel, including: Display area AA, display area AA has touch electrodes (not shown in the figure); Retaining wall structure 1 surrounds display area AA; Touch trace 2, touch electrode 1 is led out from display area AA through touch trace 2 that crosses the retaining wall structure 1. Touch trace 2 is located at the ramp position that crosses the retaining wall structure 1 (e.g. Figure 2 and Figure 3 The width h of the dashed circle is less than the width H of the touch trace 2 at other locations. "Other locations" specifically refers to the width of the touch trace 2 at locations other than the ramp location. Specifically, there can be other layers, such as an encapsulation layer, between the barrier structure 1 and the touch trace 2.

[0025] The display panel provided in this embodiment of the invention has a display area and a retaining wall structure surrounding the display area. The display area has touch electrodes, which are led out from the display area via touch traces that cross the retaining wall structure. The width of the touch traces at the ramp position across the retaining wall structure is smaller than the width of the touch traces at other positions. That is, because the touch traces have a large step difference when entering the display area (AA) from an external circuit (such as an FPC) and passing through the lower retaining wall structure (Dam), the metal film layer forming the touch traces is exposed during exposure. Steep slopes in wall structures are prone to photoresist (PR) residue, which can cause photoresist residue on metal traces of different signals on the same film layer. After the photoresist is removed, metal residue remains, leading to short circuits between touch traces and ultimately touch failure. By reducing the width of the touch traces at the slope crossing the retaining wall structure, the space between touch traces at the slope can be increased, reducing the short circuit rate, improving yield, and mitigating the problem of short circuits between adjacent touch traces in integrated touch display devices, which can easily lead to touch failure.

[0026] In specific implementations, the display panel in this invention embodiment can be an FMLOC display panel, that is, after the encapsulation layer for the organic light-emitting devices of the display panel is fabricated, a touch film layer is directly fabricated on it, integrating touch and display into the same panel. For details, see [link to documentation]. Figure 1 As shown, the touch electrodes can be led out through the barrier structure 1 of the bezel (e.g., the bottom bezel) on one side of the display panel, and the touch traces 2 outside the barrier structure 1 can be led to the flexible circuit board (FPC).

[0027] It should be noted that the barrier structure in the embodiments of the present invention can specifically be a barrier structure that blocks the flow of organic encapsulation material in the encapsulation layer during the encapsulation process.

[0028] In practical implementation, the display panel has multiple barrier structures, and the width of the same touch trace 2 is the same at the climbing positions that cross different barrier structures 1. That is, combined with Figure 4 As shown, for example, the display panel has two layers of retaining wall structure 1. Each touch trace 2, when passing through these two retaining wall structures from the display area outwards, passes through a first climbing position A1, a second climbing position A2, a third climbing position A3, and a fourth climbing position A4. The width at the first climbing position A1 is h11, the width at the second climbing position A2 is h12, the width at the third climbing position A3 is h13, and the width at the fourth climbing position A4 is h14. Therefore, h11, h12, h13, and h14 are all the same. In this embodiment of the invention, the same touch trace has the same width at the climbing positions crossing different retaining wall structures, which helps to reduce the manufacturing difficulty of the touch traces in this embodiment of the invention.

[0029] In practical implementation, the width of different touch traces 2 is the same at the climbing position. That is, for example, combined with Figure 4 As shown, the width h21 of the second touch trace from the left at the ramp position is the same as the width h11 of the first touch trace from the left at the ramp position. In this embodiment of the invention, the different touch traces 2 have the same width at the ramp position, which helps to reduce the manufacturing difficulty of the touch traces 2 in this embodiment of the invention, and also avoids the problem that different touch traces 2 provide different touch signals to the display panel due to their different widths.

[0030] In specific implementation, combined with Figure 2 , Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 As shown, each touch trace 2 has a recessed shape at the climbing position, extending inward from the outer edge of the touch trace (e.g., Figure 5 The cutout 21 (indicated by the middle arrow). Specifically, each touch trace 2 has two cutouts 21 at a ramp position, with the notches of the two cutouts 21 facing away from each other. That is, for example, combined with Figure 5 As shown, the first touch line 2 from the left has a first hollow part 211 and a second hollow part 212 at a climbing position A1. The notches of the first hollow part 211 and the second hollow part 212 face away from each other.

[0031] In specific implementation, combined with Figure 6 As shown, the length y of the hollowed-out portion along the extension direction AB of the touch trace is greater than the length x along the extension direction CD perpendicular to the touch trace 2. In this embodiment of the invention, since the y direction is the direction in which the touch trace climbs up the retaining wall structure, and the x direction is the direction in which different touch traces are prone to short circuits, the y direction is set relatively large because the touch trace has a long slope at the climbing position. The x direction cannot be too large because the touch trace has a relatively small line width; if x is too large, it will cause a sudden change in resistance.

[0032] In practical implementation, the hollowed-out part 21 is rectangular in shape, such as... Figure 5 or Figure 6 As shown; the shape of the hollowed-out part 21 can also be square, such as Figure 7 As shown; the shape of the hollowed-out part 21 can also be semi-circular, such as Figure 8 As shown; the shape of the hollowed-out part 21 can also be semi-elliptical, such as... Figure 9 As shown; the shape of the hollowed-out part 21 can also be triangular, such as Figure 10 As shown. Of course, it is understandable that the rectangles, squares, semicircles, semi-ovals, and triangles described above may be approximated as rectangles, squares, semicircles, semi-ovals, and triangles respectively, depending on the manufacturing process.

[0033] In specific implementation, combined with Figure 6 As shown, the hollow portion 21 is rectangular in shape; the length x of the hollow portion 21 along the direction AB perpendicular to the extension of the touch trace 2 is one-tenth to one-fifth of the width H of the touch trace 2. In this embodiment of the invention, the length x of the hollow portion 21 along the direction AB perpendicular to the extension of the touch trace 2 is one-tenth to one-fifth of the width H of the touch trace 2. This can improve the short circuit problem that is prone to occur at the climbing position, and also avoid affecting the signal transmission capability of the touch trace itself when the line width changes.

[0034] In specific implementation, combined with Figure 6 As shown, the length x of the cutout portion 21 along the extension direction AB perpendicular to the touch trace 2 is 1μm to 3μm. The width y of the cutout portion 21 along the extension direction AB of the touch trace 2 is 5μm to 15μm.

[0035] In a specific implementation, the display panel includes: a substrate, thin-film transistors, a light-emitting layer, and an encapsulation layer, which are sequentially located on the substrate; wherein the touch traces are located on the side of the encapsulation layer opposite to the light-emitting layer.

[0036] This invention also provides a display device, including a display panel as provided in this invention embodiment.

[0037] The beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present invention are as follows: The display panel provided by the embodiments of the present invention has a display area, a retaining wall structure surrounding the display area, and a touch electrode in the display area. The touch electrode is led out from the display area through a touch trace that crosses the retaining wall structure. The width of the touch trace at the ramp position across the retaining wall structure is smaller than the width of the touch trace at other positions. That is, because the touch trace has a large step difference when it enters the display area (AA) from an external circuit (such as an FPC) and passes through the lower retaining wall structure (Dam), the metal film layer forming the touch trace is more effective. During exposure, photoresist (PR) residue is prone to appear on the steep slope of the retaining wall structure. This residue can cause different signals to have photoresist residue on the same film layer metal traces at the steep slope. After the photoresist is removed, metal residue will remain, causing short circuits between touch traces and leading to touch failure. By reducing the width of the touch traces at the slope crossing the retaining wall structure, the space between the touch traces at the slope can be increased, reducing the short circuit rate, improving the yield, and improving the problem of short circuits between adjacent touch traces in integrated touch display devices, which can easily lead to touch failure.

[0038] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, if these modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this invention and their equivalents, this invention also intends to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A display panel, wherein, include: A display area having touch electrodes; A retaining wall structure that surrounds the display area; The touch electrode is led out from the display area through the touch trace that crosses the retaining wall structure. The width of the touch trace at the climbing position that crosses the retaining wall structure is smaller than the width of the touch trace at other positions. Each of the touch traces has a hollow portion recessed inward from the outer edge of the touch trace at the climbing position; The length of the hollowed-out portion along the direction perpendicular to the extension of the touch trace is one-tenth to one-fifth of the width of the touch trace.

2. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The display panel has multiple retaining wall structures, and the same touch trace has the same width at the climbing position across different retaining wall structures.

3. The display panel as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein, The width of the different touch traces is the same at the climbing position.

4. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein, Each of the aforementioned touch traces has two said cutouts at one of the said ramp positions, with the notches of the two said cutouts facing away from each other.

5. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The length of the cutout portion along the direction of the touch trace is greater than the length along the direction perpendicular to the direction of the touch trace.

6. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The hollowed-out portion can be rectangular, square, semi-circular, semi-elliptical, or triangular.

7. The display panel as claimed in claim 6, wherein, The hollowed-out section is rectangular in shape.

8. The display panel as claimed in claim 7, wherein, The length of the cutout portion along the direction perpendicular to the extension of the touch trace is 1μm to 3μm.

9. The display panel as claimed in claim 8, wherein, The width of the cutout portion along the extension direction of the touch trace is 5μm to 15μm.

10. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The display panel includes: a substrate, thin-film transistors, a light-emitting layer, and an encapsulation layer sequentially disposed on the substrate; wherein the touch traces are located on the side of the encapsulation layer opposite to the light-emitting layer.

11. A display device, wherein, Includes the display panel as described in any one of claims 1-10.

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