Display panel and manufacturing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022052132-A1
Application number	US-202017047469-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 31, 2020
Priority date	Aug 11, 2020
Publication date	Feb 17, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a display panel and a manufacturing method of the display panel. The display panel includes an array substrate, a first electrode, a pixel definition layer, an organic functional layer, a second electrode, a covering layer, and an auxiliary electrode. By arranging an auxiliary cathode in a non-display area and using a parallel connection of the auxiliary cathode and a cathode, a cathode resistance of devices is reduced to relieve an IR-drop phenomenon and improve a brightness uniformity of the panel. The present disclosure provides the manufacturing method of the display panel. An organic material can be patterned to form the covering layer without using a fine mask, and a metal material can be patterned to form the auxiliary electrode by utilizing characteristics of self-assembled materials, thereby reducing production costs.

First claim

1 . A display panel, comprising:
an array substrate comprising a display area and a non-display area; a first electrode disposed on the array substrate and corresponding to the display area; a pixel definition layer disposed on the array substrate and corresponding to the non-display area; an organic functional layer disposed on the first electrode and the pixel definition layer; a second electrode disposed on the organic functional layer; a covering layer disposed on the second electrode and corresponding to the display area; and an auxiliary electrode disposed on the second electrode and corresponding to the non-display area, wherein the auxiliary electrode is connected in parallel with the second electrode.

2 . The display panel in claim 1 , wherein:
a material of the covering layer comprises an organic material; and a material of the auxiliary electrode comprises a metal material.

3 . The display panel in claim 1 , wherein:
the organic functional layer comprises: a light-emitting function layer disposed on the first electrode; and an electron transport layer disposed on the light-emitting function layer and the pixel definition layer.

4 . The display panel in claim 3 , wherein:
the organic functional layer comprises: a hole injection layer; a hole transport layer disposed on the hole injection layer; and a light-emitting layer disposed on the hole transport layer.

5 . The display panel in claim 1 , wherein:
the pixel definition layer comprises: a first layer, wherein edges of the first layer cover the first electrode; and a second layer disposed on the first layer.

6 . A manufacturing method of a display panel, comprising following steps:
providing an array substrate and a mask, wherein the array substrate comprises a display area and a non-display area, the mask comprises a light transmitting area and a non-light transmitting area; forming a first electrode on the array substrate, wherein the first electrode corresponds to the display area; forming a pixel definition layer on the array substrate, wherein the pixel definition layer corresponds to the non-display area; forming an organic functional layer on the first electrode and the pixel definition layer; forming a second electrode on the organic functional layer; vacuum evaporating an organic material on the second electrode; setting the mask above the array substrate, wherein the light transmitting area corresponds to the non-display area, and the non-light transmitting area corresponds to the display area; irradiating the mask with a laser, wherein light is transmitted through the light transmitting area to the organic material in the non-display area, the organic material in the non-display area absorbs high energy to sublimate into a gaseous state, gaseous molecules are condensed into a film in the light transmitting area, and the organic material in the display area forms a covering layer; and forming an auxiliary electrode on the second electrode of the non-display area, wherein the auxiliary electrode is connected in parallel with the second electrode.

7 . The manufacturing method of the display panel in claim 6 , wherein:
the step of forming the auxiliary electrode on the second electrode of the non-display area specifically comprises: vacuum evaporating a metal material on the display area and the non-display area, wherein due to repulsion between the organic material in the display area and the metal material, the metal material spontaneously forms a film in the (non-display area) to form the auxiliary electrode.

8 . The manufacturing method of the display panel in claim 6 , wherein:
the mask comprises: a light transmitting substrate comprising alignment marks; a masking layer disposed on the light transmitting substrate and corresponding to the non-light transmitting area; and a limiting frame arranged around the light transmitting substrate and surrounding the covering layer.

9 . The manufacturing method of the display panel in claim 8 , wherein:
the step of setting the mask above the array substrate comprises: making the alignment marks of the mask correspond to alignment marks of the array substrate, wherein a side of the masking layer faces the array substrate, and the limiting frame is arranged at a periphery of the array substrate.

10 . The manufacturing method of the display panel in claim 6 , wherein:
in the step of forming the pixel definition layer on the array substrate of the non-display area, a double-layered pixel definition layer is manufactured by using two yellow light processes; and in the step of forming the organic functional layer on the first electrode and the pixel definition layer, the organic functional layer is manufactured by a method of inkjet printing.

Assignees

• Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Semiconductor Display Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Wan Zhijun

Classifications

• H10K59/80522

  combined with auxiliary electrodes · CPC title

• H10K71/00

  Manufacture or treatment specially adapted for the organic devices covered by this subclass · CPC title

• H01L51/5056

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01L51/56

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01L51/5072

  Electricity · mapped topic