Display panel and display device

Abstract

To provide both touch and display functionality as applied to underscreen recognition, transparency display, etc.SOLUTION: A display panel includes a base, a display function layer located on the base, a touch structure, and a translucent light-shielding layer. The display functional layer includes a plurality of light emitting elements and translucent apertures, where the translucent apertures are located in the first region and in the gaps between the light emitting elements. The touch structure includes touch electrodes. The translucent light-shielding layer is located between the touch structure and the base, and the orthographic projection of the translucent aperture and the translucent light-shielding layer overlap at least partially at the base.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of display technology, and more particularly to display panels and display devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are organic thin-film electroluminescent devices that have attracted attention due to their advantages such as simple manufacturing process, low cost, low power consumption, high brightness, wide viewing angle, high contrast, and flexible display. They are widely used in electronic display products.

[0003] However, current electronic display products are limited by their structural design, making it difficult to achieve both excellent touch and display functions when applied to scenarios such as under-screen recognition and transparent display. Summary of the Invention

[0004] A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a display panel, including a base, a display function layer disposed on the base, a touch structure, and a light-transmitting / shielding layer, wherein the display function layer includes a plurality of light-emitting elements and a plurality of light-transmitting openings arranged on the base, the light-transmitting openings being arranged in a first region and positioned in gaps between the light-emitting elements, the touch structure being disposed on a side of the display function layer facing away from the base and including a touch electrode, and the light-transmitting / shielding layer being disposed between the touch structure and the base, such that orthogonal projections of the light-transmitting openings and the light-transmitting / shielding layer at least partially overlap on the base.

[0005] In the above embodiment, in the region where the light-transmitting opening is located, the touch electrode and the circuit in the base (for example, the circuit structure in the driving circuit layer described below) are isolated by the light-transmitting shielding layer, thereby eliminating mutual interference of driving signals between the touch electrode and the circuit in the base.

[0006] In one embodiment of the first aspect of the present disclosure, in the base, an orthogonal projection of the light-transmitting opening is located within an orthogonal projection of the light-transmitting shielding layer.

[0007] In one embodiment of the first aspect of the present disclosure, a gap between adjacent light-emitting elements is a first gap, a gap between the light-emitting element and the adjacent light-transmitting opening is a second gap, and the touch electrode is a grid electrode, and orthogonal projections of the grid lines of the grid electrode at the base are respectively located within the orthogonal projections of the first gap and the second gap. That is, in the grid electrode, the orthogonal projections of some grid lines at the base are located within the orthogonal projections of the gaps between the light-emitting elements, and the orthogonal projections of other grid lines at the base are located within the orthogonal projections of the gaps between the light-emitting elements and the light-transmitting opening. This design increases the light transmittance of the touch electrode and enables the use of a highly conductive material such as metal for the touch electrode.

[0008] For example, the light-transmitting shielding layer may be a transparent electrode containing a transparent conductive material, so as not to block the light emitted from the light-emitting element.

[0009] For example, the material of the light-transmitting shielding layer includes at least one of indium tin oxide, indium gallium oxide, and indium zinc oxide. Optionally, the base includes a drive circuit layer.

[0010] In one embodiment of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the display panel may further include an isolation structure located on the base and defining a light-transmitting opening and a plurality of isolation openings, and the light-emitting elements are each positionally restricted within the isolation openings.

[0011] In the above solution, the use of an isolation structure eliminates the need for a mask plate in the manufacturing process of the light-emitting element, eliminating the need to consider alignment accuracy issues in the manufacturing process and advantageously reducing the gap dimension between the light-emitting elements to improve the pixel PPI of the display panel. Furthermore, by providing a light-transmitting opening in the isolation structure in the first region, the region of the display panel where the light-transmitting opening is provided can be made light-transmitting. This allows the first region of the display panel to achieve a transparent display or an underscreen recognition function, such as underscreen fingerprint recognition or an underscreen camera.

[0012] In one embodiment of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the light-emitting element includes a first electrode, a light-emitting functional layer, and a second electrode sequentially stacked on a base, the light-emitting functional layer and the second electrode of the light-emitting element being located in corresponding isolation openings, the isolation structure includes a support portion and a crown portion sequentially stacked on the base, the orthogonal projection of the support portion being located within the orthogonal projection of the crown portion on the base, the support portion being a conductive structure, and the second electrode of the light-emitting element being connected to the support portion.

[0013] In the above solution, the isolation structure is formed so that the gap between adjacent light-emitting elements is generally wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, thereby increasing the blocking effect of the isolation structure on the light-emitting functional layer during the manufacturing process of the light-emitting elements and reducing the problem of current crosstalk between adjacent light-emitting elements.

[0014] In one embodiment of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the display function layer further includes a pixel definition layer including a plurality of pixel openings each corresponding to the isolation openings and located on a side of the base adjacent to the isolation structure, wherein the pixel openings confine the positions of the light-emitting elements, expose the first electrodes, correspond to the isolation openings, and communicate with the corresponding isolation openings.

[0015] In one embodiment of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the light-transmitting shielding layer is located on a side of the pixel-defining layer adjacent to the isolation structure and is connected to the support.

[0016] In another embodiment of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the light-transmitting shielding layer is located on a side of the support portion close to the crown portion, i.e., located between the support portion and the crown portion and connected to the support portion. Furthermore, for example, at the base, an orthogonal projection of the light-transmitting shielding layer and an orthogonal projection of the support portion overlap.

[0017] In another embodiment of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the light-transmitting shielding layer includes a plurality of shielding units, the shielding units being located within the light-transmitting openings and covering at least a portion of the sidewalls of the support.

[0018] In another embodiment of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the light-transmitting shielding layer covers the display function layer and the light-transmitting opening, and is located on the side facing away from the base of the isolation structure and contacts the surface facing away from the base of the isolation structure, and the crown portion is a conductive structure.

[0019] In another embodiment of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the display panel further includes a first encapsulating layer, a second encapsulating layer, and a third encapsulating layer sequentially stacked on the display function layer, the touch structure being located on the side of the third encapsulating layer opposite to the base, the first encapsulating layer and the third encapsulating layer being inorganic layers, and the second encapsulating layer being an organic layer. The light-transmitting shielding layer is located between the first encapsulating layer and the second encapsulating layer and contacts the isolation structure, which is a conductive structure, or the light-transmitting shielding layer is located between the second encapsulating layer provided with a through-hole and the third encapsulating layer and is connected to the isolation structure, which is a conductive structure, via the through-hole.

[0020] For example, the display panel includes a display area, and the light-transmitting shielding layer, the isolation structure, and the through-hole are located within the display area; alternatively, the display panel includes a display area and a non-display area located on at least one side of the display area, and the light-transmitting shielding layer and the isolation structure extend from the display area to the non-display area, and the through-hole is located within the non-display area.

[0021] In another embodiment of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the display panel further includes a first encapsulating layer, a second encapsulating layer, a third encapsulating layer, and a buffer layer sequentially stacked on the display function layer, and the touch structure is located on a side opposite to the base of the buffer layer, wherein the first encapsulating layer, the third encapsulating layer, and the buffer layer are inorganic layers, the second encapsulating layer is an organic layer, the second encapsulating layer and the buffer layer have through-holes, and the light-transmitting shielding layer is located between the buffer layer and the touch structure and is connected to the isolation structure, which is a conductive structure, through the through-hole.

[0022] In one embodiment of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the entire display area is the first area. In this design, the display panel can be used for transparent display scenes.

[0023] In another embodiment of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the display panel includes a display area, the display area including a first area and a second area located on at least one side of the first area, and the light-transmitting opening is located in the first area. In this design, the display panel can be used in scenarios such as under-screen fingerprint recognition, under-screen camera, etc.

[0024] A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a display device, which may include the display panel of any one of the above-described embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic planar structure diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing a display substrate of the display panel. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the S1 region in one design of the display panel shown in FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view along M1-N1 of one design of the display panel shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the display panel shown in FIG. 2 taken along line M2-N2. [Figure 5]1A is a schematic diagram of a planar structure of a touch electrode in a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, where an S2 region corresponds to an S1 region in FIG. 1. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along M3-N3 of the touch electrode shown in FIG. [Figure 6] 1A is a schematic diagram of a planar structure of a touch electrode in a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, where an S3 area corresponds to an S1 area in FIG. 1. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along M4-N4 of the touch electrode shown in FIG. [Figure 7] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line M1-N1 of another design of the display panel shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 8] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line M1-N1 of another design of the display panel shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 9] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line M1-N1 of another design of the display panel shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 10] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line M1-N1 of another design of the display panel shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 11] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line M1-N1 of another design of the display panel shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 12] 1A to 1E are process diagrams of a method for manufacturing a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Hereinafter, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this specification will be described clearly and completely with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of this specification. Needless to say, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of this specification, and are not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this specification, all other embodiments that can be obtained by those skilled in the art without any creative work also fall within the scope of protection of this specification.

[0027] A display panel can have touch functionality as well as functions such as transparent display and under-screen recognition (fingerprint recognition, under-screen camera). To achieve this, a transparent region is defined in the display panel, and transparent holes are provided in the gaps between the sub-pixels in the transparent region to allow light to pass through. However, in the region where the transparent holes are located, signal interference may occur between the conductive structure for realizing the touch functionality (e.g., the touch electrode described below) and the underlying driving circuit (e.g., the driving circuit in the base described below), which may result in poor touch functionality or display functionality.

[0028] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display panel and a display device to solve at least the above technical problems. The display panel includes a display area, the display area including a first area. The display panel also includes a base, a display function layer, a touch structure, and a light-transmitting / shielding layer located on the base. The display function layer includes a plurality of light-emitting elements and a plurality of light-transmitting openings arranged on the base, the light-transmitting openings being arranged in the first area and located between the light-emitting elements. The touch structure is located on a side of the display function layer facing away from the base and includes a touch electrode. The light-transmitting / shielding layer is located between the touch structure and the base, and an orthogonal projection of the light-transmitting openings and an orthogonal projection of the light-transmitting / shielding layer at least partially overlap on the base. In this display panel, the touch electrode and the circuit in the base are isolated by the light-transmitting / shielding layer in the area where the light-transmitting openings are located, thereby eliminating mutual interference of driving signals between the touch electrode and the circuit in the base.

[0029] The structure of a display panel according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In these drawings, a spatial Cartesian coordinate system is constructed based on the base (or display substrate) of the display panel to intuitively represent the positional relationship of each element in the display panel. In the spatial Cartesian coordinate system, the X-axis and Y-axis are parallel to the plane in which the base is located, and the Z-axis is perpendicular to the plane in which the base is located.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 , a display panel 10 includes a display area 11 and a non-display area 12 surrounding the display area 11. The display area 11 includes a first area 13, in which sub-pixels emitting light of different colors, such as R, G, and B, are arranged. A light-transmitting opening 201 is provided in the first area 13, and the provision of the light-transmitting opening 201 allows the first area 13 to have a predetermined light transmittance and be used for underscreen recognition, a camera, or a transparent display. Note that in some embodiments of the present disclosure, some wiring may be arranged in the display area 11 so that the non-display area 12 can be designed as a one-sided bezel.

[0031] The physical structure of the display panel 10 includes a base 100 , a display function layer 200 , a touch structure 20 and a light-transmitting shielding layer 30 disposed on the base 100 .

[0032] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the base is provided with a circuit structure used to drive functional structures that realize display or other functions (e.g., fingerprint recognition). These functional structures may be designed according to the application needs of the display panel to be actually produced, and are not limited herein, nor are the specific designs and types of circuit structures on the base. For example, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the base 100 may include a substrate and a driving circuit layer located on the substrate. The driving circuit layer includes multiple pixel driving circuits located in the display area, and the display functional layer is located on the driving circuit layer. For example, the pixel driving circuit may include multiple transistors (TFTs), capacitors, etc., and may be formed in various forms, such as 2T1C (i.e., two transistors (TFTs) and one capacitor (C)), 3T1C, or 7T1C. The pixel driving circuit is connected to the light-emitting element 220 to control the switching state and light-emitting brightness of the light-emitting element 220.

[0033] For example, the display function layer 200 includes a plurality of light-emitting elements 220 and a plurality of light-transmitting openings 201 arranged on the base 100, the light-transmitting openings 201 are arranged in the first region 13 and are located in the gaps between the light-emitting elements 220, and the light-emitting elements 220 are the actual light-emitting structures of the sub-pixels R, G, and B, i.e., the light-transmitting openings 201 for transmitting light are installed in the gaps between the light-emitting elements 220.

[0034] For example, the touch structure 20 is located on the side of the display function layer 200 facing away from the base 100 and includes a touch electrode 400 .

[0035] For example, the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 is located between the touch structure 20 and the base 100, and the orthogonal projection of the light-transmitting opening 201 and the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 at the base 100 at least partially overlap.

[0036] For example, the material of the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 is a transparent conductive material, which may be, for example, ITO (indium tin oxide), IGO (indium gallium oxide), IZO (indium zinc oxide), or the like.

[0037] 3 , in the base 100, the orthogonal projection of the light-transmitting opening 201 is located within the orthogonal projection of the light-transmitting shielding layer 30. This can further improve the shielding effect of the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 against the driving signals between the touch electrode 400 and the driving circuit layer.

[0038] 2 and 3 , in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a gap between adjacent light-emitting elements 220 (e.g., corresponding subpixels R and G) is a first gap 1, a gap between a light-emitting element 220 and its adjacent light-transmitting opening 201 is a second gap 2, and the touch electrode 400 may be designed as a grid electrode, where orthogonal projections of grid lines of the grid electrode on the base 100 are respectively located within the first gap 1 and the second gap 2. That is, in the touch electrode 400, the orthogonal projections of some grid lines 21 on the display base 100 are located within the orthogonal projections of the gaps between the subpixels on the display base 100, and the orthogonal projections of other grid lines 21 on the base 100 are located within the orthogonal projections of the gaps between the subpixels and the light-transmitting openings 201 on the display base 100. This design can increase the light transmittance of the touch electrode 400 and enable the use of a highly conductive material, such as a metal, for the material of the touch electrode 400.

[0039] In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the display panel further includes an isolation structure 210 positioned on the base 100 and defining a light-transmitting opening 201 and a plurality of isolation openings 202, whereby the light-emitting elements 220 may be positioned within the isolation openings 202, respectively. Using the isolation structure 210 eliminates the need for a mask plate in the manufacturing process of the light-emitting elements 220, eliminating the need to consider alignment accuracy issues during the manufacturing process and advantageously reducing the gap dimension between the light-emitting elements 220 to improve the pixel PPI of the display panel 10 (see the related explanations in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 12(A) to 12(E) for this principle). Furthermore, by providing the light-transmitting openings 201 in the isolation structure 210 in the first region 13, the region of the display panel 10 where the light-transmitting openings 201 are provided can be made transparent, thereby enabling the first region 13 of the display panel 10 to realize a transparent display or an underscreen recognition function, such as underscreen fingerprint recognition or underscreen camera.

[0040] The light-transmitting and shielding layer may be disposed in any position other than the first region, as long as it can cover the first region and separate the driving circuit layer from the touch electrode. Hereinafter, specific installation methods for the insulating structure, touch electrode, light-emitting element, and other structures in the display panel will be briefly described, followed by the description of some specific installation methods for the light-transmitting and shielding layer.

[0041] For example, the light-emitting element 220 includes a first electrode 221, a light-emitting functional layer 223, and a second electrode 222, which are sequentially stacked on the base 100. For example, the first electrode 221 may be an anode, and the second electrode 222 may be a cathode.

[0042] For example, the light-emitting functional layer 223 may include a first common layer 2231, a light-emitting layer 2232, and a second common layer 2233, which are sequentially stacked on the first electrode 221. The first common layer 2231 may include a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an electron blocking layer, etc. The second common layer 2232 may include an electron injection layer, an electron transport layer, a hole blocking layer, etc. The isolation structure 210 is provided to electrically isolate the first common layers 221 (main film layers that cause current crosstalk) of each light-emitting element 220 from each other.

[0043] For example, the isolation structure 210 includes a support portion 211 and a crown portion 212 sequentially stacked on the base 100, where the orthogonal projection of the support portion 211 is located within the orthogonal projection of the crown portion 212 on the base 100, the support portion 211 is a conductive structure, the light-emitting functional layer 223 and the second electrode 222 of the light-emitting element 220 are located within the corresponding isolation opening 202, and the second electrode 222 of the light-emitting element 220 is located within the corresponding isolation opening 202 and connected to the support portion 211. In this manner, the isolation structure 210 is formed so as to be generally wider at the top and narrower at the bottom in the gap between adjacent light-emitting elements 220. This increases the blocking effect of the isolation structure 210 on the light-emitting functional layer 223 (including the first common layer 2231, which is a main film layer causing current crosstalk) during the manufacturing process of the light-emitting element 220, thereby reducing the problem of current crosstalk between adjacent light-emitting elements 220.

[0044] The material of the second electrode 222 may be a metal material. The thinner the second electrode 222, the higher its light transmittance, but the higher its electrical resistivity. If the thickness of the second electrode 222 is too small, the voltage drop across the second electrode 222 (which in this case serves as a common electrode) will be too large if no isolation structure 210 is provided. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the second electrode 222 is connected to the conductive support 211, which can remove the restriction on the thickness of the second electrode 222. This allows the second electrode 222 to have a smaller thickness and higher light transmittance.

[0045] In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the support 211 may be a metal conductive structure, and the high conductivity of the metal material can reduce the voltage drop when driving the cathode. Meanwhile, the metal material may only be transparent when it is extremely thin (e.g., on the order of several tens of nanometers). In contrast, the isolation structure 220 requires a certain thickness to shield the light-emitting functional layer 223 (the first common layer 2231 included therein), and accordingly, the support 211 of the isolation structure 220 is almost opaque to light. Therefore, in order to allow the isolation structure 210 to transmit light, a transparent opening 201 must be provided.

[0046] 3 and 4 , in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the display function layer 223 may further include a pixel defining layer 213. The pixel defining layer 213 is located on a side of the base 100 that is close to the isolation structure 210, i.e., is located between the base 100 and the isolation structure 210, and the pixel defining layer 213 includes a plurality of pixel openings 203 that respectively correspond to the isolation openings 202. The pixel openings 203 confine the positions of the light-emitting elements 220, expose the first electrodes 221, respectively correspond to the isolation openings 202, and communicate with the corresponding isolation openings 202.

[0047] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the specific structure of the touch electrode is not limited and can be designed according to actual process needs. Hereinafter, different designs of the touch electrode will be described in different embodiments, specifically as follows:

[0048] 5A and 5B, the touch electrode 400 includes a plurality of parallel first electrode strips 410 and a plurality of parallel second electrode strips 420, the first electrode strips 410 and the second electrode strips 420 being spaced apart from each other and crossing each other to form touch units at the crossing points, and the first electrode strips 410 and the second electrode strips 420 are arranged as a grid electrode.

[0049] For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in Figures 5(A) and 5(B), the first electrode strip 410 is located between the second electrode strip 420 and the isolation structure 210. Macroscopically, the area where the first electrode strip 410 and the second electrode strip 420 intersect and overlap is the area where the touch unit is located, and both the first electrode strip 410 and the second electrode strip 420 are transparent in the overlapping area. The first electrode strip 410 and the second electrode strip 420 may be separated by an insulating layer 430.

[0050] For example, in some other embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B), a first electrode strip 410 includes a plurality of first electrode blocks 411 and a plurality of first connection portions 412, and the plurality of first electrode blocks 411 of the same first electrode strip 410 are connected by the first connection portions 412. A second electrode strip 420 includes a plurality of second electrode blocks 421 and a plurality of second connection portions 422, and the plurality of second electrode blocks 421 of the same second electrode strip 420 are connected by the second connection portions 422. The first connection portions 412 and the second connection portions 422 intersect and are spaced apart from each other. The first electrode blocks 411, the first connection portions 412, and the second electrode strip 420 are in the same layer, and the second connection portions 422 are located between the first connection portions 412 and the isolation structure 210 or on the side of the first connection portions 412 away from the isolation structure 210. In this design, the light transmittance of the touch electrode 400 is high, and the alignment precision between the lattice holes and the light-transmitting openings 201 and the isolating openings 202 is high, thereby improving the light transmittance of the first region 13. In this design, the main bodies of the first electrode strips 410 and the second electrode strips 420 are disposed on the same layer, eliminating the need to consider the alignment issue of the lattice holes between the first electrode strips 410 and the second electrode strips 420, which is advantageous for improving the light transmittance of the touch electrode 400. For example, the second connection portion 422 and the first connection portion 412 may be separated by an insulating layer 430.

[0051] 3 and 4 , in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, an encapsulation layer 300 may be disposed between the display function layer 200 and the touch structure 20. For example, the encapsulation layer 300 may include a first encapsulation layer 310, a second encapsulation layer 320, and a third encapsulation layer 330 sequentially stacked on the display function layer 200, with the second encapsulation layer 320 positioned between the first encapsulation layer 310 and the third encapsulation layer 330. The first encapsulation layer 310 and the third encapsulation layer 330 are highly dense inorganic layers that block oxygen. The second encapsulation layer 320, being an organic layer, has a large thickness, which flattens the surface of the display panel and facilitates the fabrication of the touch electrode 400 on the encapsulation layer 300.

[0052] The first encapsulating layer 310 may be used to protect the light emitting device 220 during the manufacturing process of the light emitting device 220, i.e., the first encapsulating layer 310 is formed during the manufacturing process of the light emitting device 220. For more information, please refer to the related descriptions in the embodiments shown in Figures 12(A) to 12(E), and the description will be omitted here.

[0053] Several methods for installing the light-transmitting and light-shielding layer will be described below.

[0054] 7 , the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 is located on the side of the pixel defining layer 213 close to the isolation structure 210, i.e., between the pixel defining layer 213 and the isolation structure 210, and is connected to the support 211. For example, in this design, the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 may be arranged in a grid pattern, and the grid holes of the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 correspond to the isolation openings 202, respectively.

[0055] In some other embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 8 , the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 is located on the side of the support 211 closest to the crown 212, i.e., between the support 211 and the crown 212 and connected to the support 211. That is, the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 is located inside the isolation structure 210. For example, the orthogonal projection of the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 on the base 100 may overlap the orthogonal projection of the support 211, i.e., the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 may also be arranged in a lattice pattern, with the lattice holes in the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 corresponding to the isolation openings 202. In this design, the crown 212 is not necessarily a conductive structure, so restrictions on the material of the crown 212 can be lifted. This allows the crown 212 to have a larger dimension, thereby improving the isolation effect on the light-emitting functional layer 223.

[0056] In some other embodiments of the present disclosure, the light-transmitting shielding layer includes a plurality of shielding units, each of which is located within the light-transmitting opening and covers at least a portion of the sidewall of the support. For example, the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 shown in FIG. 8 can be modified to leave only the portion of the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 located within the light-transmitting opening 201, which corresponds to the shielding unit.

[0057] In some other embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in Figure 9, the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 covers the display area, is located away from the base of the isolation structure, and contacts the surface facing away from the base of the isolation structure, and the crown portion 212 is a conductive structure.

[0058] 9, the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 covers the display area, is located between the first encapsulation layer 310 and the second encapsulation layer 320, and contacts the isolation structure 210. The isolation structure 210 is a conductive structure.

[0059] 3 and 4, in some other embodiments of the present disclosure, the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 covers the display area and is located between the second sealing layer 320 and the third sealing layer 330. The second sealing layer 320 has a through-hole, and the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 is connected to the isolation structure 210 through the through-hole. In addition, the isolation structure 210 is a conductive structure.

[0060] 10 , a buffer layer 440 can be disposed between the encapsulation layer 300 and the touch structure 20, thereby preventing the encapsulation layer 300 from being destroyed during the manufacturing of the touch electrode 400. For example, the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 further covers the display area and is located between the buffer layer 440 and the touch structure 20, and through-holes are disposed in the second encapsulation layer 320 and the buffer layer 440, and the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 is connected to the isolation structure 210 through the through-holes. In addition, the isolation structure 210 is a conductive structure.

[0061] The through-holes may be located in the display area or outside the display area. That is, the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 and the isolation structure 210 may be connected within the display area, or they may be connected in a non-display area other than the display area, in which case both the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 and the isolation structure 210 extend to the non-display area. In the non-display area, the edges of the second sealing layer 320 and the third sealing layer 330 may be formed with gently inclined surfaces to facilitate the placement of signal lines, and the portion of the light-transmitting shielding layer 30 located in the non-display area may be designed as a signal line, extending from the inclined surfaces to the non-display area and connected to the isolation structure 210.

[0062] For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the display panel may further include structures such as an optical sheet 500 and a cover plate 600, which may be located on the side of the touch structure 20 opposite to the display function layer 200.

[0063] Hereinafter, the manufacturing process of the display panel shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 12(A) to 12(E) to intuitively demonstrate the principle by which the isolation structure can increase the pixel array density PPI.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 12(A), a base 100 is prepared, and first electrodes 221 arranged in an array are formed on the base 100. An insulating material layer (e.g., an inorganic material layer) is deposited on the base 100 on which the first electrodes have been formed. A support portion 211 and a crown portion 212 are formed on the display panel, in which light-transmitting openings 201 and isolation openings 202 are formed. The insulating material film layer is patterned to form pixel definition layers 213 (having a lattice-like planar shape). The pixel definition layers 213 include pixel openings 203 and cover the gaps between adjacent first electrodes; thus, the pixel definition layers 213 have a lattice-like planar shape.

[0065] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the patterning process may be a photolithography patterning process, which may include, for example, applying a photoresist to the structural layer that needs to be patterned, exposing the photoresist using a mask plate, developing the exposed photoresist to obtain a photoresist pattern, and etching (wet etching or dry etching) the structural layer using the photoresist pattern, and then selectively removing the photoresist pattern. Note that if the material of the structural layer (e.g., the photoresist pattern 700 described below) includes photoresist, the structural layer can be directly exposed through a mask plate to form a desired pattern.

[0066] 12(B), a light-emitting functional layer and a second electrode are vapor-deposited on the base 100 to form light-emitting elements 220 in each of the isolation openings 202 of the isolation structure 210. Since no mask plate is used in the vapor deposition process, the vapor-deposited material is deposited on the crown portion 212 as well as the light-transmitting openings 201 and the isolation openings 202. For example, the vapor-deposited light-emitting functional layer may emit red light (G), i.e., at this stage, light-emitting elements 220 emitting red light are formed in each of the light-transmitting openings 201 and the isolation openings 202 of the isolation structure 210.

[0067] 12(C), a first encapsulating layer 310 is deposited to cover the light-emitting elements 220, and at this stage, the first encapsulating layer 310 covers the entire display area. A photoresist is formed (e.g., coated) on the first encapsulating layer 310 and then patterned to form a photoresist pattern 700. The photoresist pattern 700 covers only a portion of the isolation openings 202 of the isolation structure 210 (the isolation openings 202 where the light-emitting elements G of the finished display panel are located).

[0068] 12(D), the surface of the display panel is etched using the photoresist pattern 700 as a mask to remove the first sealing layer 310, the second electrode, and the light-emitting functional layer that are not covered by the photoresist pattern 700. Thereafter, the remaining photoresist pattern 700 is removed.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 12(E), the above steps are repeated to form light emitting elements 220 that emit green and blue light in the other isolation openings 202, respectively.

[0070] 3, after all the light emitting elements 220 are manufactured, the second encapsulating layer 320 is formed on the first encapsulating layer 310, through-holes are formed in the second encapsulating layer 320, and a transparent electrode is formed on the second encapsulating layer 320 as the light-transmitting and shielding layer 30. Then, the third encapsulating layer 330 is formed on the second encapsulating layer 320. Here, the light-transmitting and shielding layer 30 contacts the isolation structure 210 through the through-holes.

[0071] Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, the touch electrode layer 400 is fabricated on the third sealing layer 330.

[0072] It should be noted that the manufacturing sequence of the light emitting elements 220 that emit red light, green light, and blue light may be designed according to actual needs, and the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

[0073] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, some of the layers in the light-emitting functional layer, such as the light-emitting layer, may be manufactured by a non-deposition method, such as inkjet printing, and the method may be selected depending on the material of the layer. For example, if the layer is made of a polymer material that is not suitable for deposition, it may be manufactured by inkjet printing.

[0074] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the design area of ​​the first region is not limited, and can be designed according to the demands of the actual process and the application scene of the display panel.

[0075] For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the entire display area may be designed as the first area 13. In this design, the display panel can be used for scenes such as transparent display.

[0076] For example, in some other embodiments of the present disclosure, referring again to Figure 1, the display area further includes a second area (an area within the display area 11 and other than the first area 13), the second area being located on at least one side of the first area 13, the first area 13 being a light-transmitting area, and the second area being a non-light-transmitting area. In this design, the display panel can be used for scenarios such as fingerprint recognition or an under-screen camera.

[0077] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display device, which may include the display panel in the above embodiment. Also, when the first region is a recognition region, the display device may include a recognition element, and an orthogonal projection of the recognition element at a base at least partially overlaps with the first region.

[0078] For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the recognition element includes at least one fingerprint recognition sensor, which may be located on a side of the base facing away from the display function layer or within the base.

[0079] For example, in some other embodiments of the present disclosure, the recognition element may be a camera, and the camera is located on the side of the base facing away from the display function layer.

[0080] For example, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the display device may be any product or component having a display function, such as a television, a digital camera, a mobile phone, a wristwatch, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a navigator.

[0081] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present specification, and does not limit the present specification. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present specification should be included in the protection scope of the present specification.

Claims

1. A display panel, The display device includes a base, a display function layer, a touch structure, an isolation structure, and a light-transmitting shielding layer; the display function layer includes a plurality of light-emitting elements and a plurality of light-transmitting openings arranged on the base, the light-transmitting openings being located in gaps between adjacent light-emitting elements; the touch structure is located on a side of the display function layer facing away from the base and includes a touch electrode; the isolation structure is located on the base and defines the light-transmitting opening and a plurality of isolation openings, the light-emitting elements are each positioned within the isolation openings, and the isolation structure is a conductive structure; the light-transmitting shielding layer is located on a side of the touch structure that is close to the display function layer, and an orthogonal projection of the light-transmitting opening in the base is located within an orthogonal projection of the light-transmitting shielding layer, and the light-transmitting shielding layer is connected to the isolation structure; A display panel characterized by:

2. a gap between adjacent light-emitting elements is a first gap, and a gap between the light-emitting element and the adjacent light-transmitting opening is a second gap; the touch electrode is a grid-shaped electrode, and orthogonal projections of grid lines of the grid-shaped electrode on the base are respectively located within orthogonal projections of the first gap and the second gap; The light-transmitting shielding layer contains a transparent conductive material.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged parallel to each other.

3. the light emitting element includes a first electrode, a light emitting functional layer, and a second electrode sequentially stacked on the base, the light emitting functional layer and the second electrode of the light emitting element being located in the corresponding isolation opening; the isolation structure includes a support portion and a crown portion sequentially stacked on the base, wherein an orthogonal projection of the support portion on the base is located within an orthogonal projection of the crown portion; the support portion has a conductive structure, and the second electrode of the light-emitting element is connected to the support portion; 3. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are electrically connected to each other.

4. the display functional layer further comprises a pixel defining layer; the pixel definition layer includes a plurality of pixel openings respectively corresponding to the isolation openings and is located on a side of the base adjacent to the isolation structure; the pixel openings limit the positions of the light-emitting elements, expose the first electrodes, correspond to the isolation openings, and communicate with the corresponding isolation openings; the light-transmitting shielding layer is located on a side of the pixel defining layer adjacent to the isolation structure and is connected to the support portion; 4. The display panel according to claim 3.

5. the light-transmitting shielding layer is located on a side of the support portion that is close to the crown portion and is connected to the support portion, and an orthogonal projection of the light-transmitting shielding layer and an orthogonal projection of the support portion overlap on the base; 4. The display panel according to claim 3.

6. the light-transmitting shielding layer includes a plurality of shielding units, each of which is located within the light-transmitting opening and covers at least a portion of a sidewall of the support; 4. The display panel according to claim 3.

7. the light-transmitting shielding layer covers the display function layer and the light-transmitting opening, and is located on a side of the isolation structure facing away from the base and in contact with a surface of the isolation structure facing away from the base, and the crown portion is a conductive structure.

4. The display panel according to claim 3.

8. The display device further includes a first sealing layer, a second sealing layer, and a third sealing layer sequentially stacked on the display function layer, the touch structure being located on a side of the third sealing layer facing away from the base, the first sealing layer and the third sealing layer being inorganic layers, and the second sealing layer being an organic layer; the light-transmitting shielding layer covers the display function layer and the light-transmitting opening and is located on a side of the first sealing layer that is closer to the second sealing layer, or the light-transmitting and shielding layer covers the display function layer and the light-transmitting opening, and is located on a side of the second sealing layer that is close to the third sealing layer, a through hole is formed in the second sealing layer, and the light-transmitting and shielding layer is connected to the isolation structure through the through hole; 3. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are electrically connected to each other.

9. the display panel includes a display area, the light-transmitting shielding layer and the isolation structure are located within the display area, and the through-hole is located within the display area; Alternatively, the display panel includes a display area and a non-display area located on at least one side of the display area, the light-transmitting and shielding layer and the isolation structure extend from the display area to the non-display area, and the through-hole is located within the non-display area.

9. The display panel according to claim 8.

10. The touch panel further includes a first sealing layer, a second sealing layer, a third sealing layer, and a buffer layer sequentially stacked on the display function layer, the touch structure being located on a side of the buffer layer facing away from the base, the first sealing layer, the third sealing layer, and the buffer layer being inorganic layers, and the second sealing layer being an organic layer; the light-transmitting and shielding layer covers the display function layer and the light-transmitting opening and is located on a side of the buffer layer adjacent to the touch structure, the second sealing layer and the buffer layer have through holes, the light-transmitting and shielding layer is connected to the isolation structure through the through holes, and the isolation structure is a conductive structure; 3. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are electrically connected to each other.

11. the display panel includes a display area, the display area includes a first area and a second area, the second area is located on at least one side of the first area, and the light-transmitting opening is located within the first area; 3. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are electrically connected to each other.

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