Display panel and manufacturing method thereof, display device

Abstract

The present application provides a display panel, a manufacturing method thereof, and a display device, the display panel including a pixel definition layer, a light-emitting device layer, and a dimming configuration layer, the pixel definition layer having a first opening for accommodating a light-emitting device, the dimming configuration layer including a first dimming layer having a second opening corresponding to the first opening, a second dimming layer covering at least a sidewall of the second opening, and a third dimming layer filling at least the second opening, the refractive index of the first dimming layer being greater than the refractive index of the second dimming layer and less than the refractive index of the third dimming layer.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to the field of display technology, and more particularly to a display panel, a manufacturing method thereof, and a display device. [Background technology]

[0002] Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display panels have features such as self-luminescence, thinness, high contrast, wide viewing angle, and vivid colors compared to Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panels. Furthermore, OLED display panels are much thinner than regular LCD panels and can be made into display devices in various forms, such as bent, curved, and curled, which is why they are widely used in wearable devices.

[0003] OLED display panels typically include a light-emitting device for emitting light. However, current OLED display panels have problems such as a large light emission angle of the light-emitting device, resulting in relatively low brightness at the front viewing angle of the OLED display panel. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The embodiments of the present application provide a display panel, a manufacturing method thereof, and a display device, which solve the problem of low brightness at the front viewing angle of the display panel in the related art. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a display panel, the display panel including a drive substrate, a pixel definition layer, a light-emitting device layer, an encapsulation layer, and a dimming configuration layer. The pixel definition layer and the light-emitting device layer are disposed on the drive substrate, the pixel definition layer having a plurality of first openings, and the light-emitting device layer including a plurality of light-emitting devices, each of the light-emitting devices being located within one of the first openings. The encapsulation layer is disposed on a side of the light-emitting device layer away from the drive substrate. The dimming configuration layer is disposed on a side of the encapsulation layer away from the drive substrate, and the dimming configuration layer includes a first dimming layer, a second dimming layer, and a third dimming layer disposed in this order along a direction away from the drive substrate. The first dimming layer has a second opening corresponding to the first opening, the second dimming layer covers at least a sidewall of the second opening, and the third dimming layer fills at least the second opening. The refractive index of the first photochromic layer is greater than the refractive index of the second photochromic layer, and the refractive index of the first photochromic layer is less than the refractive index of the third photochromic layer.

[0006] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a display device, the display device including the display panel described above.

[0007] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a method for manufacturing a display panel, the method including: providing a drive substrate; fabricating a pixel definition layer and a light-emitting device layer on the drive substrate, the pixel definition layer having a plurality of first openings, the light-emitting device layer including a plurality of light-emitting devices, each located within one of the first openings; fabricating an encapsulation layer on the light-emitting device layer away from the drive substrate; and fabricating a light-control configuration layer on the encapsulation layer away from the drive substrate, the light-control configuration layer including a first light-control layer, a second light-control layer, and a third light-control layer arranged in this order along a direction away from the drive substrate. The first light-control layer has a second opening corresponding to the first opening, the second light-control layer covers at least a sidewall of the second opening, and the third light-control layer fills at least the second opening. Here, the refractive index of the first light-control layer is greater than that of the second light-control layer and less than that of the third light-control layer. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] In order to more clearly explain the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings that are necessary for describing the embodiments of the present application will be briefly described below. The drawings described below are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, and it is obvious that those skilled in the art can further derive other drawings based on these drawings without making any creative efforts.

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display panel provided in some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display panel provided in some other embodiments of the present application. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display panel provided in some other embodiments of the present application. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method for manufacturing a display panel provided in some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating a method for manufacturing a display panel provided in some other embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. However, it is clear that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, and do not include all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without creative efforts fall within the scope of protection of the present application. Furthermore, it should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely intended to illustrate and explain the present application, and are not intended to limit the present application.

[0011] It should be understood that in the description of this application, the orientations and positional relationships indicated by terms such as "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "top," "bottom," "inside," and "outside" are based on the orientations and positional relationships shown in the drawings, and do not suggest or imply that the referenced devices or elements have a particular orientation or must be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, but are merely for the convenience of describing and simplifying the description of this application, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the application.

[0012] Furthermore, it should be understood that the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and do not denote or suggest relative importance or implicitly designate the number of technical features referenced. Therefore, features qualified with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features. In the present description, unless expressly and specifically limited, "plurality" means two or more, and "at least one" means one, two, or more.

[0013] In the related art, OLED display panels have problems such as a large light output angle of the light-emitting device, which results in a relatively low brightness at the front viewing angle of the OLED display panel.

[0014] Therefore, some embodiments of the present application provide a display panel, and as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the display panel 100 includes a driving substrate 11, a pixel definition layer 12, a light-emitting device layer 13, an encapsulation layer 14, and a dimming configuration layer 15.

[0015] The pixel definition layer 12 has a plurality of first openings K1, and the light emitting device layer 13 includes a plurality of light emitting devices 130 located on the driving substrate 11, with each light emitting device 130 located in one first opening K1. That is, the number of the first openings K1 is the same as the number of the light emitting devices 130 and corresponds one-to-one. The encapsulation layer 14 is located on the side of the light emitting device layer 13 away from the driving substrate 11 and covers the above-mentioned light emitting devices 130.

[0016] The dimming component layer 15 is located on the side of the sealing layer 14 away from the drive substrate 11, and includes a first dimming layer 151, a second dimming layer 152, and a third dimming layer 153, which are provided in this order along the direction away from the drive substrate 11. The first dimming layer 151 has a second opening K2 corresponding to the first opening K1, the second dimming layer 152 covers at least a sidewall 1501 of the second opening K2, and the third dimming layer 153 fills at least this second opening K2.

[0017] The refractive index of the first photochromic layer 151 is greater than the refractive index of the second photochromic layer 152, and is less than the refractive index of the third photochromic layer 153, so that the difference between the refractive index of the second photochromic layer 152 and the refractive index of the third photochromic layer 153 is relatively large. In this way, the contact surface between the second photochromic layer 152 and the third photochromic layer 153 forms a good transition interface, which can be located at least on the side wall of the second opening K2.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, when light rays are emitted from the light-emitting device 130 and enter the third photochromic layer 153 from the bottom of the second opening K2 and hit this transition interface, the light rays are more likely to undergo total internal reflection because they hit a material with a high refractive index and a material with a low refractive index. As a result, the light rays that were originally refracted and emitted from the third photochromic layer 153 are reflected at a front viewing angle, thereby increasing the brightness at a front viewing angle and improving the light output efficiency.

[0019] Therefore, the display panel 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application can effectively adjust light rays, and converge light rays that are originally dispersed over a wide viewing angle at a front viewing angle, thereby achieving the purpose of increasing brightness at the front viewing angle and improving light output efficiency.

[0020] In some embodiments, the driving substrate 11 may include a substrate 111 and a driving circuit layer 112 located on the substrate 111. The driving circuit layer 112 can drive the light-emitting devices 130 in the light-emitting device layer 13 to cause the light-emitting devices 130 to emit light.

[0021] In some embodiments, substrate 111 may be a rigid substrate, and the material of the rigid substrate may include, for example, glass, quartz, plastic, etc.

[0022] In some embodiments, the substrate 111 may be a flexible substrate, and the material of the flexible substrate may include, for example, PET (Polyethylene terephthalate), PEN (Polyethylenenaphthalate two formic acid glycol ester), or PI (Polyimide).

[0023] In some embodiments, the driving circuit layer 112 may include a plurality of pixel driving circuits, each of which is electrically connected to a light emitting device, where the electrical connection between the two may include various types and may be selected and configured according to specific needs, and the present application is not limited thereto.

[0024] For example, the pixel drive circuits and light emitting devices 130 described above may be electrically connected in one-to-one correspondence. Alternatively, for example, one pixel drive circuit may be electrically connected to multiple light emitting devices 130. Alternatively, for example, multiple pixel drive circuits may be electrically connected to one light emitting device 130.

[0025] In some embodiments, a plurality of light emitting devices 130 may be arranged in an array, and a plurality of pixel driver circuits may also be arranged in an array, thereby facilitating corresponding connections therebetween.

[0026] In the embodiment of the present application, the configuration of the display panel 100 will be described schematically, taking as an example a case where one pixel driving circuit and one light emitting device 130 are electrically connected in correspondence with each other.

[0027] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the above-described light-emitting device 130 includes an anode 131 located on a driving substrate 11, and a light-emitting functional layer 132 and a cathode 133 located on the anode 131 and stacked in sequence.

[0028] The anodes 131 of the plurality of light-emitting devices 130 are disposed independently of each other, with a gap between any two adjacent anodes 131. For example, the plurality of anodes 131 may be arranged in an array.

[0029] The cathodes 133 of the light-emitting devices 130 are connected to each other to form a cathode layer. Illustratively, the cathode layer may be fabricated using a blanket deposition process. Thus, the encapsulation layer 14 is provided on the side of the cathode layer away from the driving substrate 11.

[0030] The light-emitting functional layer 132 includes an emission layer (EML), which is used to emit light. The emission layers of the light-emitting devices 130 may be disposed independently of each other, and there may be a gap between any two adjacent emission layers. For example, the emission layers and the anodes may be disposed in one-to-one correspondence.

[0031] In some embodiments, the light-emitting functional layer 132 may further include a first common layer located between the anode and the light-emitting layer and a second common layer located between the light-emitting layer and the cathode. The first common layer may include, but is not limited to, a hole injection layer (HIL) and / or a hole transportation layer (HTL). The second common layer may include, but is not limited to, an electron injection layer and / or an electron transportation layer (ETL). The first and second common layers may be disposed over the entire layer.

[0032] In some embodiments, the anodes 131 are electrically connected to pixel driving circuits in a one-to-one correspondence to receive driving signals from the pixel driving circuits, the cathodes 133 receive reference voltage signals, and the light-emitting layers in the light-emitting functional layers 132 emit light in response to the driving signals and the reference voltage signals. The screen display of the display panel 100 can be realized by the cooperation of multiple light-emitting devices 130.

[0033] In some embodiments, the light-emitting device 130 may be a top-emitting light-emitting device. Therefore, the anode 131 is a substantially opaque electrode with a relatively high reflectivity, and the cathode 133 is a semi-transparent electrode. For example, materials for the cathode 133 include, but are not limited to, magnesium (Mg), silver (Ag), aluminum (Al), magnesium-silver alloy, indium tin oxide (ITO), etc.

[0034] The encapsulation layer 14 located on the light emitting device 130 can prevent the light emitting device 130 from being oxidized or damaged by moisture, oxygen, or impurities introduced from the outside.

[0035] The encapsulating layer 14 may include a first encapsulating layer 141, a second encapsulating layer 142, and a third encapsulating layer 143, which are located on the light-emitting device layer 13 and stacked in this order.

[0036] The material of first sealing layer 141 and third sealing layer 143 may include an inorganic material such as silicon nitride, silicon oxide, or silicon nitride oxide. Inorganic materials are highly dense and can prevent the intrusion of water, oxygen, and the like. For example, first sealing layer 141 and third sealing layer 143 may be formed by a process such as chemical vapor deposition.

[0037] The material of second sealing layer 142 may include an organic material, such as a polymer containing a desiccant or a polymer capable of blocking water vapor, such as a polymer resin. For example, second sealing layer 142 may be formed by a process such as inkjet printing.

[0038] In some embodiments, a touch structure is further provided on the side of the encapsulation layer 14 away from the light-emitting device layer 13. The touch structure may include a first touch metal layer, an inorganic insulating layer, and a second touch metal layer, which are stacked in sequence. The inorganic insulating layer may include silicon nitride, etc. Specifically, the first light control layer 151 is an organic layer disposed on the side of the second touch metal layer away from the encapsulation layer 14, and this organic layer can protect the touch structure to a certain extent and planarize the touch structure. Based on this, a second opening K2 corresponding to the first opening K1 is provided in the first light control layer 151, and a film layer with a higher refractive index is filled in the second opening K2. This utilizes the principle of total reflection to improve the light output efficiency at the front viewing angle of the display panel.

[0039] In some embodiments, the display panel does not fill the second opening K2 with a film layer with a refractive index that meets the criteria. Adding a film layer with a refractive index that meets the criteria, for example, adding a high refractive index ink by printing, would inevitably require an additional process, which would be detrimental to reducing the thickness of the display panel. It would also be difficult to avoid ink overflow during the printing process of the high refractive index ink, and the overflowing ink would occupy a certain amount of the bezel, which would be detrimental to achieving a narrow bezel of the display panel.

[0040] To solve the above-mentioned problems, in some embodiments, the third light control layer 153 is provided as an adhesive layer, i.e., an adhesive layer is filled into the second opening K2 of the first light control layer 151, so that the side of the first light control layer 151 away from the sealing layer 14 can be bonded to the functional layer of the display panel 100 by the adhesive layer. In other words, providing the third light control layer 153 as an adhesive layer does not increase the thickness of the display panel 100, and because the adhesive layer is a sheet material covering the entire surface, there is no overflow that occupies the bezel, which is advantageous for making the display panel 100 thinner and designing a narrower bezel.

[0041] In some embodiments, the display panel 100 further includes a polarization layer. This polarization layer is located on the side of the dimming component layer 15 away from the sealing layer 14. The third dimming layer 153 is an adhesive layer that is attached to the surface of the polarization layer closer to the dimming component layer 15. That is, the third dimming layer 153 is used to directly attach the polarization layer. In actual manufacturing, the third dimming layer 153 is an adhesive layer attached to the polarization layer itself. That is, the third dimming layer 153 does not increase the thickness of the display panel 100, and is advantageous for reducing the thickness of the display panel 100.

[0042] In some embodiments, the third photochromic layer 153 is an adhesive layer, and the adhesive layer contains an acrylic double bond and a benzene ring. The acrylic double bond ensures the viscosity of the third photochromic layer 153, and the addition of the benzene ring increases the refractive index of the third photochromic layer 153, making the refractive index of the third photochromic layer 153 higher than that of the first photochromic layer 151. However, the addition of the benzene ring increases the rigidity of the third photochromic layer 153, making it less flexible and affecting the viscosity of the third photochromic layer 153. Therefore, to achieve a balance between the viscosity and refractive index of the third photochromic layer 153, the refractive index of the third photochromic layer 153 must be higher than that of the first photochromic layer 151, and it is difficult to achieve a large difference in the refractive index between the third photochromic layer 153 and the first photochromic layer 151. As can be seen from the principle of total reflection, the greater the difference in refractive index between the third dimming layer 153 and the first dimming layer 151, the more advantageous it is for improving the light output efficiency at the front viewing angle. Therefore, if total reflection is achieved solely by the cooperation of the first dimming layer 151 and the third dimming layer 153, the improvement in the light output efficiency at the front viewing angle of the display panel is limited.

[0043] In actual manufacturing processes, the first light-adjusting layer 151 is an organic layer located above the touch structure and is manufactured in a pre-fabricating process for the display panel. Meanwhile, the third light-adjusting layer 153 directly adheres to an adhesive layer on the functional layer of the display panel. This adhesive layer is manufactured in a post-fabricating process for the display panel. After the pre-fabricating process for the display panel is completed, a protective film must be attached to the surface of the display panel to protect it and avoid damage during the transition from the pre-fabricating process to the post-fabricating process. After the display panel is transferred to the post-fabricating process, the protective film attached in the pre-fabricating process must first be peeled off. This protective film includes a protective film body and a release agent layer located on the protective film body side. The release agent layer is located on the side of the protective film body closest to the first light-adjusting layer 151. Therefore, it is inevitable that some of the release agent layer will remain during the process of peeling off the protective film.

[0044] Based on the above-described embodiment, the remaining release agent layer is used as the second photochromic layer 152, and the refractive index of the second photochromic layer 152 is set to be smaller than that of the first photochromic layer 151. At the same time, the process is adjusted to ensure that the second photochromic layer 152 remains uniformly at least on the side wall of the second opening K2 of the first photochromic layer 151, so that the total reflection interface becomes the interface between the third photochromic layer 153 and the second photochromic layer 152. Because the difference between the refractive index of the third photochromic layer 153 and the refractive index of the second photochromic layer 152 is greater than the difference between the refractive index of the third photochromic layer 153 and the first photochromic layer 151, the provision of the second photochromic layer 152 can further improve the light output efficiency at the front viewing angle of the display panel.

[0045] In some embodiments, the second photochromic layer 152 contains at least an organic material, and the organic material in the second photochromic layer 152 is different from the material of the organic layer corresponding to the first photochromic layer 151, so that the refractive index of the second photochromic layer 152 is different from the refractive index of the first photochromic layer 151.

[0046] Furthermore, by making the organic material in the second photochromic layer 152 have a chain structure containing -NH-COO-, not only can the second photochromic layer 152 meet the requirement of being used as a release agent layer, but also the requirement that the refractive index of the second photochromic layer 152 be smaller than that of the first photochromic layer 151. In practical applications, the material of the second photochromic layer 152 includes polyurethane. In other embodiments, the second photochromic layer 152 may be made of other materials, and is not specifically limited herein, as long as both the requirement of the second photochromic layer 152 as a release agent layer and the refractive index requirement are met.

[0047] In the present embodiment, the refractive index of the first photochromic layer 151 is set to be greater than the refractive index of the second photochromic layer 152 but less than the refractive index of the third photochromic layer 153, thereby increasing the difference between the refractive indexes of the second photochromic layer 152 and the third photochromic layer 153. In this way, the contact surface between the second photochromic layer 152 and the third photochromic layer 153 can form a good transition interface. When light emitted from the light-emitting device enters the third photochromic layer 153 from the bottom of the second opening K2 and hits this transition interface, the light passes through a material with a high refractive index and a material with a low refractive index, which makes it more likely to undergo total reflection. The light originally refracted by the third photochromic layer 153 and exits is reflected at a front viewing angle, thereby increasing the brightness at a front viewing angle and improving the light output efficiency. In addition, since the second dimming layer 152 also serves as a release agent layer remaining in the display panel manufacturing process, and the third dimming layer 153 also serves as an adhesive layer for the adhesive functional layer of the display panel, the installation of the second dimming layer 152 and the third dimming layer 153 is advantageous in improving the light output efficiency of the display panel at the front viewing angle without increasing the manufacturing process of the display panel and in simplifying the manufacturing process of the display panel.

[0048] In some embodiments, the third photochromic layer 153 contains a small molecule polar functional group that adsorbs to polyurethane, thereby increasing the degree of adhesion at the interface between the second photochromic layer 152 and the third photochromic layer 153 and preventing the degree of adhesion at the interface between the second photochromic layer 152 and the third photochromic layer 153 from decreasing after being left for a certain period of time.

[0049] In some embodiments, the third photochromic layer 153 is susceptible to the influence of ionic wind during processing, which reduces the viscosity of the third photochromic layer 153 to a certain extent. Therefore, small molecule polar functional groups adsorbed to polyurethane in the third photochromic layer 153 are embedded in the chain structure of the acrylic double bond to reduce the blocking effect of the functional groups and increase the viscosity of the third photochromic layer 153 during processing.

[0050] Unlike the above-described embodiments in which a benzene ring is added to the configuration of the third photochromic layer 153 to improve the refractive index of the third photochromic layer 153, in some embodiments, high refractive index particles are doped into the third photochromic layer 153. The method of doping the third photochromic layer 153 with high refractive index particles improves the refractive index of the third photochromic layer 153, but similarly, the refractive index of the third photochromic layer 153 must be greater than the refractive index of the first photochromic layer 151, and the third photochromic layer 153 must have sufficient viscosity as an adhesive layer.

[0051] In some embodiments, the second opening K2 penetrates the first light-controlling layer 151, and the area of ​​the second opening K2 on the side away from the driving substrate 11 is larger than the area of ​​the second opening K2 on the side closer to the driving substrate 11. That is, the second opening K2 has a structure in which one end is larger and the other end is smaller. For example, the second opening K2 may have an inverted truncated cone shape to effectively expand the light-emitting area of ​​the corresponding light-emitting device 130. In this case, the sidewall 1501 is a sidewall inclined outward in the direction from the driving substrate 11 toward the light-controlling structure layer 15.

[0052] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, the second photochromic layer 152 may only cover the sidewall 1501 of the second opening K2.

[0053] With this arrangement, a transition interface is formed between the second and third photochromic layers 152 and 153 on the side wall 1501 of the second opening K2, which can effectively adjust the light rays incident on the side wall 1501 of the second opening K2 and reflect the light rays at a front viewing angle, thereby improving the brightness at a front viewing angle.

[0054] In some embodiments, the sidewall 1501 may form a curved surface, as shown in Figure 3. Alternatively, by way of example, the sidewall 1501 may form a flat surface, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Of course, the sidewall 1501 may be a combination of curved and flat surfaces or other shapes, and the present application is not limited thereto.

[0055] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the second light control layer 152 further covers the surface of the first light control layer 151 away from the drive substrate 11, except for the sidewall 1501 of the second opening K2.

[0056] With this arrangement, when light emitted from the light-emitting device 130 enters the first dimming layer 151 through the bottom surface of the first dimming layer 151 (i.e., the surface of the first dimming layer 151 closer to the driving substrate 11), exits from the top surface of the first dimming layer 151 (i.e., the surface of the first dimming layer 151 farther from the driving substrate 11), and then passes through the second dimming layer 152 to reach the interface between the second dimming layer 152 and the third dimming layer 153, more refraction occurs when the light ray passes from a material with a low refractive index to a material with a high refractive index, which is advantageous for improving the light extraction efficiency of the light-emitting device 130.

[0057] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2 , the second photochromic layer 152 further covers the surface of the encapsulation layer 14 (e.g., the third encapsulation layer 143) at the second opening K2, except for the sidewall 1501 of the second opening K2. In practical applications, a touch structure is further provided on the side of the encapsulation layer 14 away from the light-emitting device layer 13, and the touch metal layer in the touch structure is disposed so as to avoid the first opening K1. In the touch structure, the film layer corresponding to the first opening K1 is an inorganic insulating layer. Therefore, when the second opening K2 penetrates the first photochromic layer 151, the bottom wall of the second opening K2 is the inorganic insulating layer in the touch structure. Therefore, the second photochromic layer 152 covering the bottom wall of the second opening K2 corresponds to the second photochromic layer 152 covering the surface of the inorganic insulating layer at the second opening K2.

[0058] With this arrangement, the light emitted from the light-emitting device 130 passes through the bottom of the second opening K2 and enters the second photochromic layer 152, and when it passes through the interface between the second photochromic layer 152 and the third photochromic layer 153, it passes from the low refractive index material to the high refractive index material, resulting in more refraction, which is beneficial to improving the light extraction efficiency of the light-emitting device 130.

[0059] 2, the second photochromic layer 152 is disposed over the entire layer, covering both the first photochromic layer 151 and the second opening K2. In this way, the second photochromic layer 152 can form one continuous layer, which ensures that the light emitting device 130 has good light output efficiency and front viewing angle brightness, and is also convenient for manufacturing the second photochromic layer 152.

[0060] In some embodiments, the first light-regulating layer 151 may have a plurality of second openings K2. The plurality of second openings K2 and the plurality of light-emitting devices 130 in the light-emitting device layer 13 correspond to each other one-to-one.

[0061] In this case, the second photochromic layer 152 covers the entire first photochromic layer 151, corresponding to the position of the second opening in the first photochromic layer 151, and the second photochromic layer 152 covers the portion corresponding to the sealing layer 14. In other words, the first photochromic layer 151 and the sealing layer 14 may be the entirety, and the second photochromic layer 152 is fabricated as a single layer on top of this entirety.

[0062] In some embodiments, the thickness of the second light control layer 152 is 10 nm or more and 100 nm or less. This configuration is advantageous in that the overall film thickness of the light control component layer 15 is thin, which helps to reduce the thickness of the display panel 100. In addition, setting the thickness of the light control component layer 15 within the above range is also advantageous in ensuring that the display panel 100 has relatively good brightness at the front viewing angle.

[0063] Comparative experiments were conducted on second dimming layers 152 with different thicknesses. Taking a case where the second dimming layer 152 thickness was 0 (i.e., no second dimming layer 152 was provided) as a comparison standard, when the second dimming layer 152 thickness was set to 30 nm, 50 nm, or 100 nm, the current efficiency was significantly improved. On the other hand, when the thickness of the second dimming layer 152 was greater than 100 nm or less than 10 nm, the current efficiency was significantly reduced compared to when the thickness of the second dimming layer 152 was set in the numerical range of 10 nm to 100 nm. Therefore, setting the thickness of the dimming component layer 15 within the range of 10 nm to 100 nm can improve the front viewing angle brightness of the display panel 100.

[0064] In some embodiments, the thickness of the second photochromic layer 152 is greater than or equal to 30 nm and less than or equal to 60 nm. Setting the thickness within this range can prevent the second photochromic layer 152 from being too thin, which would make it difficult to ensure a stable transition interface between the second photochromic layer 152 and the third photochromic layer 153, resulting in weak brightness at the front viewing angle. Meanwhile, it can ensure that the entire photochromic structure layer 15 has an appropriate and relatively small thickness.

[0065] In the course of experiments, it was found that setting the thickness of the second light control layer 152 within a numerical range of 30 nm to 60 nm results in the second light control layer 152 having relatively better current efficiency than other numerical ranges of 10 nm to 100 nm (for example, a range of 10 nm to 20 nm, a range of 70 nm to 80 nm, and a range of 80 nm to 90 nm). Therefore, by setting the thickness of the light control component layer 15 within a range of 30 nm to 60 nm, the front viewing angle brightness of the display panel 100 can be more effectively improved.

[0066] In some embodiments, setting the thickness of the second photochromic layer 152 to about 100 nm is more advantageous for practical manufacturing processes, since a stable transition interface is formed between the second photochromic layer 152 and the third photochromic layer 153.

[0067] In some embodiments, the absolute value of the difference between the refractive index of the first dimming layer 151 and the refractive index of the second dimming layer 152 is smaller than the absolute value of the difference between the refractive index of the first dimming layer 151 and the refractive index of the third dimming layer 153. The first dimming layer 151 is an organic layer on the side of the touch structure in the display panel 100 that is farther from the sealing layer 14, the second dimming layer 152 is a release agent layer remaining after peeling off the protective film in the manufacturing process of the display panel 100, and the third dimming layer 153 is an adhesive layer of the adhesive functional layer of the display panel 100. Due to functional limitations of the first dimming layer 151, the second dimming layer 152, and the third dimming layer 153 in the display panel 100, the absolute value of the difference between the refractive index of the first dimming layer 151 and the refractive index of the second dimming layer 152 is also limited. Due to the above restriction, the absolute value of the difference between the refractive index of the first dimming layer 151 and the refractive index of the second dimming layer 152 is smaller than the absolute value of the difference between the refractive index of the first dimming layer 151 and the refractive index of the third dimming layer 153. Therefore, when the first dimming layer 151, the second dimming layer 152, and the third dimming layer 153 each realize the function provided in the display panel 100, the difference between the refractive index of the second dimming layer 152 and the refractive index of the third dimming layer 153 becomes relatively large, further improving the light output efficiency of the display panel 100 at a front viewing angle.

[0068] In some embodiments, the refractive index of the second photochromic layer 152 is greater than or equal to 1.4 and less than 1.5, and the refractive index of the third photochromic layer 153 is greater than or equal to 1.55 and less than 1.6.

[0069] In some embodiments, the refractive index of the second photochromic layer 152 may be 1.4, 1.45, 1.5, etc. The refractive index of the third photochromic layer 153 may be 1.55, 1.56, 1.57, 1.58, 1.59, 1.6, etc.

[0070] This arrangement increases the difference in refractive index between the second and third photochromic layers 152 and 153, thereby meeting the requirement of improving brightness at the front viewing angle and also being advantageous for manufacturing the second and third photochromic layers 152 and 153.

[0071] Furthermore, when the refractive index of the third dimming layer 153 is within the numerical range of 1.55 to 1.6, the third dimming layer 153 maintains good viscosity, maintaining good stability of the entire display panel 100, and has a relatively strong degree of deformation, which is advantageous for realizing bending of the display panel 100.

[0072] In some embodiments, the third light control layer 153 is an adhesive layer, and is used to adhere elements located on the side of the second light control layer 152 away from the driving substrate 11, such as a polarizer, etc. This is advantageous for reducing the number of film layers, simplifying the manufacturing process of the display panel 100, and realizing a narrow bezel and bending of the display panel 100.

[0073] In some embodiments, the third photochromic layer 153 may use an organic adhesive. The third photochromic layer 153 may include materials such as acrylate or polymethylmethacrylate.

[0074] In some embodiments, the refractive index of the second photochromic layer 152 is greater than or equal to 1.45 and less than or equal to 1.48. Illustratively, the refractive index of the second photochromic layer 152 may be 1.45, 1.46, 1.47, 1.48, and the like.

[0075] Limiting the refractive index of the second dimming layer 152 within the above numerical range ensures that the transition interface between the second dimming layer 152 and the third dimming layer 153 can effectively and satisfactorily improve the brightness of the display panel 100 at the front viewing angle, and also facilitates the manufacture of the second dimming layer 152.

[0076] In some embodiments, the second photochromic layer 152 includes at least one of a fluorine-containing organic material and an organic silicon material, and the fluorine-containing organic material and the organic silicon material have relatively small refractive indices, so that the refractive index of the entire second photochromic layer 152 is smaller than that of the third photochromic layer 153, thereby allowing the light incident on the sidewalls of the third photochromic layer 153 to be effectively reflected, thereby improving the light utilization rate and increasing the brightness at a front viewing angle.

[0077] In some embodiments, the fluorine-containing organic material may be a fluorine mold release agent.

[0078] In some embodiments, the second photochromic layer 152 may further include a resin. The fluorine-containing organic material or the organic silicon may be distributed on the surface of the resin as a release agent. For example, the fluorine-containing organic material or the organic silicon may be uniformly distributed on the surface of the resin.

[0079] After the sealing layer 14 in the display panel 100 is formed on the light-emitting device layer 13, a first light control layer 151 is formed on the sealing layer 14, and a layer of protective film is attached to the first light control layer 151. This protective film includes a protective film body and a release agent layer located on the protective film body side, with the release agent layer located on the side of the protective film body closer to the first light control layer 151. Thereafter, the protective film is pushed out toward the first light control layer 151 by a process such as degassing, and the protective film body is peeled off, with the remaining release agent layer being used as the second light control layer 152.

[0080] Using this method, the manufacturing process of the second dimming layer 152 becomes simpler, and the need for deposition or sputtering processes to manufacture nano- or submicron-level film layers in the display panel can be avoided, thereby simplifying the above-mentioned manufacturing process and improving the production efficiency of the display panel 100.

[0081] In some embodiments, when the second photochromic layer 152 includes a fluorine-containing organic material, the atomic ratio of fluorine atoms in the second photochromic layer 152 is greater than 0 and less than 10%, i.e., the atomic ratio of fluorine atoms to all other elements in the second photochromic layer 152 is less than 10%.

[0082] This atomic ratio range ensures that the content of the fluorine-containing organic material is relatively suitable, ensuring that the refractive index of the second photochromic layer 152 is within the above range, while also ensuring smooth peeling of the release film.

[0083] In some embodiments, the atomic fraction of fluorine atoms in second photochromic layer 152 is greater than 0 and less than 5%.

[0084] Experiments have shown that when the atomic ratio is in this range, the refractive index of the second light control layer 152 is ensured to be in the numerical range of 1.45 to 1.48, and the display panel has relatively good light utilization rate and front viewing angle brightness.

[0085] In some embodiments, when the second photochromic layer 152 includes organosilicon, the atomic percentage of silicon atoms in the second photochromic layer 152 is greater than 0 and less than 10%.

[0086] This atomic ratio range ensures that the content of the organic silicon is relatively suitable, ensuring that the refractive index of the second photochromic layer 152 is within the above range, while ensuring smooth peeling of the release film.

[0087] In some embodiments, the atomic fraction of silicon atoms in second photochromic layer 152 is greater than 0 and less than 5%.

[0088] Experiments have shown that when the atomic ratio is within this range, the refractive index of the second light control layer 152 is ensured to be in the numerical range of 1.45 to 1.48, and the display panel has relatively good light utilization rate and front viewing angle brightness.

[0089] In some embodiments, the refractive index of the first photochromic layer 151 is greater than or equal to 1.5 and less than or equal to 1.53. The first photochromic layer 151 is mainly used to define the second opening K2 and provide the sidewall 1501 so that the second photochromic layer 152 can be well and stably attached to the sidewall 1501.

[0090] In some embodiments, the first photochromatic layer 151 may be fabricated using a clear optical adhesive.

[0091] In actual applications, due to deviations between the actual manufacturing process and the set values, the refractive index of the first dimming layer 151 is about 1.52, the refractive index of the second dimming layer 152 is about 1.5, and the refractive index of the third dimming layer 153 is about 1.6. In this way, the refractive index of the first dimming layer 151 is greater than that of the second dimming layer 152 but less than that of the third dimming layer 153, and the absolute value of the difference between the refractive index of the first dimming layer 151 and that of the third dimming layer 153 is smaller than that of the second dimming layer 152 and that of the third dimming layer 153, i.e., the difference between the refractive index of the second dimming layer 152 and that of the third dimming layer 153 is relatively large, thereby maximizing the light output efficiency of the display panel 100 at the front viewing angle.

[0092] In some embodiments, the orthogonal projection on the driving substrate 11 of the bottom of the second opening K2 at least partially overlaps with the orthogonal projection on the driving substrate 11 of the light-emitting device 130 corresponding to the second opening K2, so that at least a portion of the light emitted from the light-emitting device 130 reaches the side wall of the second opening K2 and is totally reflected at the interface between the third dimming layer 153 and the second dimming layer 152 on the side wall of the second opening K2, thereby improving the light emission efficiency at the front viewing angle of the display panel.

[0093] In some embodiments, the orthogonal projection on the drive substrate 11 of the bottom of the second opening K2 completely overlaps with the orthogonal projection light-emitting device 130 on the drive substrate 11 of the light-emitting device 130 corresponding to the second opening K2.

[0094] This arrangement ensures that a relatively large amount of light emitted from the light emitting device 130 enters the second opening K2 and passes through the second opening K2 to be emitted. By adjusting the transition interface on the inner wall of the second opening K2, the brightness at the front viewing angle can be effectively improved, and the light emission efficiency of the light emitting device 130 can be improved.

[0095] In some embodiments, the orthogonal projection on the drive substrate 11 of the bottom of the second opening K2 covers the orthogonal projection on the drive substrate 11 of the light-emitting device 130 corresponding to the second opening K2.

[0096] This arrangement increases the proportion of light rays emitted from the light-emitting device 130 that enter the second opening K2, thereby relatively increasing the brightness at the front viewing angle, and thereby improving the light emission efficiency of the light-emitting device 130.

[0097] Experimental detection was performed on the display panel 100 provided in the above-described embodiment. A display panel 100 without the second light control layer 152 was designated as experimental sample 1, and a display panel 100 with the above-described second light control layer 152 was designated as experimental sample 2. Under the same experimental conditions, the following three sets of data were obtained. The luminance at the front viewing angle for experimental sample 2 increased by 5.08%, 6.36%, and 6.69% compared to the luminance at the front viewing angle for experimental sample 1, respectively. Therefore, the luminance at the front viewing angle for experimental sample 2 increased by an average of 6.04% compared to the luminance at the front viewing angle for experimental sample 1. Therefore, the display panel 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application has an increase in luminance at the front viewing angle of at least 5%, which provides significant benefits to the use of the display panel 100.

[0098] Some embodiments of the present application further provide a display device, which includes the display panel 100 according to any one of the above-described embodiments.

[0099] Since this display device includes a display panel, it has all the technical effects of the display panel 100 described above, and the description thereof will be omitted here.

[0100] Some embodiments of the present application further provide a method for manufacturing the display panel 100, as shown in FIG. 4, the method includes the following steps.

[0101] In S10, a driving substrate 11 is provided.

[0102] In S20, a pixel definition layer 12 and a light-emitting device layer 13 are fabricated on the driving substrate 11, the pixel definition layer 12 has a plurality of first openings K1, and the light-emitting device layer 13 includes a plurality of light-emitting devices 130, each of which is located within one of the first openings K1.

[0103] In S30, the sealing layer 14 is formed on the side of the light-emitting device layer 13 away from the driving substrate 11.

[0104] In S40, the dimming configuration layer 15 is manufactured on the side of the sealing layer 14 away from the drive substrate 11. The dimming configuration layer 15 includes a first dimming layer 151, a second dimming layer 152, and a third dimming layer 153, which are arranged in this order along the direction away from the drive substrate 11. The first dimming layer 151 has a second opening K2 corresponding to the first opening K1, the second dimming layer 152 covers at least the sidewall 1501 of the second opening K2, and the third dimming layer 153 fills at least this second opening K2. The refractive index of the first dimming layer 151 is greater than the refractive index of the second dimming layer 152, and is less than the refractive index of the third dimming layer 153.

[0105] With the above-mentioned installation, when light rays are emitted from the light-emitting device 130 and enter the third photochromic layer 153 from the bottom of the second opening K2 and shine on this transition interface, the light rays will shine from a material with a high refractive index to a material with a low refractive index, making it easier for total reflection to occur. The light rays that were originally refracted and emitted from the third photochromic layer 153 will be reflected at a front viewing angle, thereby increasing the brightness at a front viewing angle and improving the light output efficiency.

[0106] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, in step S40, fabricating the light-modulating component layer 15 on the side of the encapsulation layer 14 away from the driving substrate 11 includes the following steps.

[0107] In S401, the first light control layer 151 is manufactured on the side of the sealing layer 14 away from the drive substrate 11.

[0108] In S402, a protective film is attached to the first photochromic layer 151 and degassing is performed. Here, the protective film includes a protective film main body and a release agent layer located on the side of the protective film main body closer to the first photochromic layer 151.

[0109] In S403, the protective film body is peeled off, and the release agent layer forms the second light control layer 152.

[0110] In S404, the third photochromic layer 153 is manufactured on the side of the second photochromic layer 152 away from the first photochromic layer 151.

[0111] Using this method, the manufacturing process of the second dimming layer 152 becomes simpler, and the need for deposition or sputtering processes to manufacture nano- or submicron-level film layers in the display panel can be avoided, thereby simplifying the above-mentioned manufacturing process and improving the production efficiency of the display panel 100.

[0112] In order to ensure that the second light control layer 152 remains uniformly on the side surface of the first light control layer 151 away from the drive substrate 11 and / or on the surface of the second opening K2, it is necessary to perform a degassing process in the manufacturing process described above. If the degassing process for the protective film is omitted in the process, it is difficult to ensure the uniformity of the second light control layer 152, and the second light control layer 152 remaining on the side wall of the second opening K2 disappears, making it impossible to achieve an improvement in the light output efficiency at the front viewing angle of the display panel due to total reflection.

[0113] In the above-described embodiments, the description of each embodiment has its own focus, and for parts of an embodiment that are not described in detail, reference can be made to the descriptions of other embodiments.

[0114] The above provides a detailed description of the technical solutions provided in the examples of the present application, and the present specification describes the principles and embodiments of the present application by applying specific examples, and the description of the above examples is intended to facilitate understanding of the technical solutions and their core ideas. Those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions described in the above examples may still be modified or some of the technical features may be replaced with equivalents, and such modifications or replacements will not deviate from the essence of the corresponding technical solutions and the scope of the technical solutions of the examples of the present application.

Claims

1. A drive board; a pixel definition layer and a light emitting device layer provided on the driving substrate, the pixel definition layer having a plurality of first openings, the light emitting device layer including a plurality of light emitting devices, each light emitting device located within one of the first openings; a sealing layer located on the side of the light-emitting device layer away from the driving substrate; a light-controlling component layer including a first light-controlling layer, a second light-controlling layer, and a third light-controlling layer located on a side of the sealing layer away from the drive substrate and provided in this order along a direction away from the drive substrate, the first light-controlling layer having a second opening corresponding to the first opening, the second light-controlling layer covering at least a sidewall of the second opening, and the third light-controlling layer filling at least the second opening; Here, the refractive index of the first photochromic layer is greater than the refractive index of the second photochromic layer, and the refractive index of the first photochromic layer is smaller than the refractive index of the third photochromic layer. Display panel.

2. the first light-controlling layer is an organic layer, the second light-controlling layer contains at least an organic substance, and the organic substance and the organic layer are made of different materials; The display panel according to claim 1 .

3. The organic substance contains a chain structure of —NH—COO—. The display panel according to claim 2 .

4. The material of the second light-controlling layer includes polyurethane. The display panel according to claim 3 .

5. The third light-controlling layer is an adhesive layer. The display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The display panel further includes a polarization functional layer, the polarization functional layer being located on a side of the light control component layer away from the sealing layer, and the adhesive layer being attached to a surface of the polarization functional layer closer to the light control component layer. The display panel according to claim 5 .

7. The third light-modulating layer contains an acrylic double bond and a benzene ring. The display panel according to claim 5 .

8. The third photochromic layer is doped with high refractive index particles. The display panel according to claim 5 .

9. The third photochromic layer comprises a small molecule polar functional group that adsorbs to polyurethane; The display panel according to claim 5 .

10. the absolute value of the difference between the refractive index of the first photochromic layer and the refractive index of the second photochromic layer is smaller than the absolute value of the difference between the refractive index of the first photochromic layer and the refractive index of the third photochromic layer; The display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

11. The refractive index of the first photochromic layer is 1.5 or more and 1.53 or less, the refractive index of the second photochromic layer is 1.4 or more and 1.5 or less, and the refractive index of the third photochromic layer is 1.55 or more and 1.6 or less. The display panel according to claim 10.

12. The refractive index of the first photochromic layer is 1.52, the refractive index of the second photochromic layer is 1.5, and the refractive index of the third photochromic layer is 1.

6. The display panel according to claim 11 .

13. The thickness of the second photochromic layer is 10 nm or more and 100 nm or less. The display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

14. The second photochromic layer is disposed over the entire layer and covers the first photochromic layer and the second opening. The display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

15. an orthogonal projection of a bottom of the second opening on the drive substrate at least partially overlaps with an orthogonal projection of the light-emitting device on the drive substrate; The display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

16. an orthogonal projection of a bottom of the second opening on the drive substrate covers an orthogonal projection of the light-emitting device on the drive substrate, or an orthogonal projection of a bottom of the second opening on the drive substrate completely overlaps with an orthogonal projection of the light-emitting device on the drive substrate; The display panel according to claim 15.

17. the second opening penetrates the first light-modulating layer, and an area of ​​the second opening on a side away from the drive substrate is larger than an area of ​​the second opening on a side closer to the drive substrate; The display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

18. A display panel comprising the display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 17. Display device.

19. providing a drive substrate; fabricating a pixel definition layer and a light emitting device layer on the driving substrate, the pixel definition layer having a plurality of first openings, the light emitting device layer including a plurality of light emitting devices, each light emitting device located within one of the first openings; fabricating an encapsulation layer on a side of the light emitting device layer away from the driving substrate; manufacturing a light-controlling configuration layer on a side of the sealing layer away from the drive substrate, the light-controlling configuration layer including a first light-controlling layer, a second light-controlling layer, and a third light-controlling layer provided in this order along a direction away from the drive substrate; The first photochromic layer has a second opening corresponding to the first opening, the second photochromic layer covers at least a sidewall of the second opening, the third photochromic layer fills at least the second opening, the refractive index of the first photochromic layer is greater than the refractive index of the second photochromic layer, and the refractive index of the first photochromic layer is less than the refractive index of the third photochromic layer; A method for manufacturing a display panel.

20. Fabricating a light-modulating component layer on the side of the sealing layer away from the drive substrate includes: fabricating a first light-modulating layer on a side of the sealing layer away from the driving substrate, and providing the second opening in the first light-modulating layer; A protective film is attached to the first photochromic layer and subjected to a degassing treatment, wherein the protective film includes a protective film body and a release agent layer located on a side of the protective film body that is closer to the first photochromic layer; Peeling off the protective film body, the release agent layer forms a second photochromic layer, and the second photochromic layer covers at least the sidewall of the second opening; and forming the third photochromic layer on the second photochromic layer away from the first photochromic layer. The method for manufacturing the display panel according to claim 19.

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