U.S. patent application number 15/324767 was filed with the patent office on 2017-07-13 for display panel, method of manufacturing the same, display device and method of controlling the display device.
The applicant listed for this patent is BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Kazuyoshi Nagayama, Song Song.
Application Number | 20170200411 15/324767 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54500067 |
Filed Date | 2017-07-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170200411 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Song; Song ; et al. |
July 13, 2017 |
DISPLAY PANEL, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, DISPLAY DEVICE AND
METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE DISPLAY DEVICE
Abstract
The present disclosure discloses a display panel, a method of
manufacturing the display panel, a flexible display device and a
method of controlling the flexible display device. The display
panel according to the present disclosure includes display units
and sensing units configured to detect brightness of the display
units, and the display units and the sensing units are
simultaneously formed on different regions of a same base
substrate.
Inventors: |
Song; Song; (Beijing,
CN) ; Nagayama; Kazuyoshi; (Beijing, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. |
Beijing |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
54500067 |
Appl. No.: |
15/324767 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
December 22, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2015/098233 |
371 Date: |
January 9, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09G 3/3233 20130101;
H01L 27/3269 20130101; H01L 27/3227 20130101; G09G 2360/145
20130101; G09G 2380/02 20130101; G09G 2320/0693 20130101; G09G
2320/0233 20130101; H01L 2251/5338 20130101; G09G 2320/029
20130101; G09G 2360/148 20130101; H01L 27/3276 20130101; G09G
3/3225 20130101; G09G 2320/043 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G09G 3/3225 20060101
G09G003/3225; H01L 27/32 20060101 H01L027/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 13, 2015 |
CN |
201510498377.9 |
Claims
1. A display panel, comprising display units and sensing units
configured to detect brightness of the display units, wherein, the
display units and the sensing units are simultaneously formed
within different regions of a same base substrate; wherein the base
substrate is a flexible substrate and is divided into a display
region and a sensing region adjacent to the display region by a
folding line, and the display units are disposed within the display
region, and the sensing units are disposed within the sensing
region, and the sensing units and the display units are symmetrical
to each other with respect to the folding line.
2. (canceled)
3. The display panel of claim 1, wherein, the display unit
comprises an organic light-emitting diode and a first thin film
transistor, and the sensing unit comprises a light-sensing
diode.
4. The display panel of claim 3, wherein, the organic
light-emitting diode is provided above the first thin film
transistor; a first electrode of the light-sensing diode and a
source-drain metal layer of the first thin film transistor are
provided in a same layer, or the first electrode of the
light-sensing diode and a gate metal layer of the first thin film
transistor are provided in a same layer, and a light-sensitive
layer of the light-sensing diode and an active layer of the first
thin film transistor are provided in a same layer, and a second
electrode of the light-sensing diode and an upper electrode of the
organic light-emitting diode facing away the base substrate are
provided in a same layer.
5. The display panel of claim 4, wherein, the sensing unit further
comprises a second thin film transistor configured to control an
output signal of the light-sensing diode; the second thin film
transistor is simultaneously formed while the first thin film
transistor is formed.
6. The display panel of claim 3, wherein, a lower electrode of the
organic light-emitting diode close to the base substrate is made of
a light-reflective material.
7. The display panel of claim 1, wherein, the sensing unit and the
display unit corresponding to the sensing unit are controlled by a
same gate line.
8. The display panel of claim 1, wherein, the sensing region is
disposed at a side of the display region and is identical with the
display region in size, or the sensing region is disposed at two
sides of the display region.
9. The display panel of claim 1, wherein, the display region
comprises a plurality of display sub-regions, the sensing region is
provided therein with a plurality of sensing sub-regions
corresponding to the plurality of display sub-regions in one-to-one
correspondence, and each sensing sub-region is provided therein
with at least one sensing unit.
10. A method of manufacturing a display panel, wherein, comprising:
providing a base substrate; and simultaneously forming display
units in a display region of the base substrate and sensing units
in a sensing region, adjacent to the display region, of the same
base substrate; wherein the display unit comprises an organic
light-emitting diode and a first thin film transistor, and the
sensing unit comprises a light-sensing diode; the step of
simultaneously forming display units in a display region of the
base substrate and sensing units in a sensing region, adjacent to
the display region, of the same base substrate comprises a process
of forming the first thin film transistor and a process of forming
the light-emitting diode, wherein a first electrode of the
light-sensing diode is simultaneously formed in the sensing region
while a source-drain metal layer or a gate metal layer of the first
thin film transistor is formed in the display region; a
light-sensitive layer of the light-sensing diode is simultaneously
formed in the sensing region while an active layer of the first
thin film transistor is formed in the display region; and a second
electrode of the light-sensing diode is simultaneously formed in
the sensing region while an upper electrode, facing away the base
substrate, of the organic light-emitting diode is formed in the
display region.
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. The method of claim 10, wherein, the sensing unit further
comprises a second thin film transistor; the second thin film
transistor is simultaneously formed while the process for forming
the first thin film transistor is performed.
14. A display device, comprising the display panel according to
claim 1.
15. The display device of claim 14, further comprising a top cover
covering the display region of the display panel to provide
protection for the display region, wherein the sensing units are
provided to a surface of the top cover close to the display
panel.
16. The display device of claim 15, wherein, the display panel is a
flexible display panel, and a back face of the sensing region is
attached to the surface of the top cover close to the display
panel, and when the top cover is closed, the sensing region is
folded along the folding line to be provided above the display
region.
17. The display device of claim 14, further comprising a brightness
compensating switch configured to start up a brightness detecting
and compensating function.
18. A method of controlling the display device according to claim
14, comprising: triggering the brightness compensating switch to
start up the brightness detecting and compensating function;
displaying test pictures by the display panel; collecting
brightness signals by the sensing units and outputting the
collected brightness signals; amplifying the brightness signals and
converting the brightness signals into digital signals; on the
basis of corresponding the digital signals to the respective
display sub-regions of the display region, calculating average
values of the corresponding digital signals for the respective
display sub-regions; and compensating the respective display
sub-regions based on the calculated results.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein, the test pictures comprises
full-white or full-black pictures of respective primary colors.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein, the brightness compensating
switch is triggered by closing the top cover.
21. (canceled)
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a National Stage Application of an
International Patent Application PCT/CN2015/098233, filed Dec. 22,
2015, entitled "DISPLAY PANEL, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME,
DISPLAY DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE DISPLAY DEVICE", which
claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 201510498377.9
filed on Aug. 13, 2015 in the State Intellectual Property Office of
China, the whole disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of
display, and particularly, to a display panel, a method of
manufacturing the display panel, a display device and a method of
controlling the display device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display screen is
regarded as an emerging technique of a next generation flat panel
display because of its excellent characteristics, such as
self-illumination, a high contrast, a thin thickness, a broader
view angle, a high response speed, flexibility, a wide range of
service temperature, a simple structure, a simple manufacturing
process and the like. However, as usage time of the OLED display
screen lapses, uneven brightness occurs in the OLED display screen
due to attenuation of brightness of light-emitting of OLED
material, unstable processes and the like.
[0004] At present, a conventional OLED display panel having a
function of compensating for brightness is shown in FIG. 1. A
sensing device 2 is provided under a light-emitting device 1. A
lower electrode 4 of the light-emitting device 1 has a hole or is
made of fully transparent material, so that light emitted from the
light-emitting material can be detected by the sensing device 2
provided under the light-emitting device 1. The sensing device 2
outputs detected light-sensitive property through a thin film
transistor 3. With such structure, the number of layers in the
structure increases due to addition of the sensing device 2, and
thus more masking processes are needed during manufacture.
Furthermore, since the lower electrode 4 of the light-emitting
device 1 must be provided with the hole or be made of transparent
material, total reflection cannot be realized and thus light
emergence efficiency is reduced.
SUMMARY
[0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display
panel, a method of manufacturing the display panel, a display
device and a method of controlling the display device, so as to at
least partially solve the above technical problem or other
technical problems not mentioned herein.
[0006] There is provided a display panel, including display units
and sensing units configured to detect brightness of the display
units, wherein the display units and the sensing units are
simultaneously formed within different regions of a same base
substrate.
[0007] In an embodiment, the base substrate is a flexible substrate
and is divided into a display region and a sensing region adjacent
to the display region by a folding line, and the display units are
disposed within the display region, and the sensing units are
disposed within the sensing region, and the sensing units and the
display units are symmetrical to each other with respect to the
folding line.
[0008] Optionally, the display unit includes an organic
light-emitting diode and a first thin film transistor, and the
sensing unit includes a light-sensing diode.
[0009] Optionally, the organic light-emitting diode is provided
above the first thin film transistor; an first electrode of the
light-sensing diode and a source-drain metal layer of the first
thin film transistor are provided in a same layer, or an first
electrode of the light-sensing diode and a gate metal layer of the
first thin film transistor are provided in a same layer, and a
light-sensitive layer of the light-sensing diode and an active
layer of the first thin film transistor are provided in a same
layer, and a second electrode of the light-sensing diode and an
upper electrode of the organic light-emitting diode facing away the
base substrate are provided in a same layer.
[0010] Optionally, the sensing unit further comprises a second thin
film transistor configured to control output signals of the
light-sensing diode, and the second thin film transistor and the
first thin film transistor are formed simultaneously.
[0011] In an embodiment, a lower electrode of the organic
light-emitting diode close to the base substrate is made of
light-reflective material.
[0012] Optionally, the sensing unit and the display unit are
controlled by a same gate line.
[0013] Optionally, the sensing region is disposed at a side of the
display region and is identical with the display region in size, or
the sensing region is disposed at two sides of the display
region.
[0014] Optionally, the display region includes a plurality of
display sub-regions, the sensing region is provided therein with a
plurality of sensing sub-regions corresponding to the plurality of
display sub-regions in one-to-one correspondence, and each sensing
sub-region is provided therein with at least one sensing units.
[0015] There is also provided a method of manufacturing a display
panel, including:
[0016] providing a base substrate; and
[0017] simultaneously forming display units in a display region of
the base substrate and sensing units in a sensing region, adjacent
to the display region, of the base substrate.
[0018] Optionally, the display unit includes an organic
light-emitting diode and a first thin film transistor, and the
sensing unit includes a light-sensing diode;
[0019] the step of simultaneously forming display units in a
display region of the base substrate and sensing units in a sensing
region, adjacent to the display region, of the base substrate
includes a process of forming the first thin film transistor and a
process of forming the light-emitting diode, wherein a first
electrode of the light-sensing diode is simultaneously formed in
the sensing region while a source-drain metal layer or a gate metal
layer of the first thin film transistor is formed in the display
region; a light-sensitive layer of the light-sensing diode is
simultaneously formed in the sensing region while an active layer
of the first thin film transistor is formed in the display region;
and a second electrode of the light-sensing diode is simultaneously
formed in the sensing region while an upper electrode, facing away
the base substrate, of the organic light-emitting diode is formed
in the display region.
[0020] Optionally, the sensing unit further includes a second thin
film transistor, and the second thin film transistor is
simultaneously formed while the respective processes for forming
the first thin film transistor are performed.
[0021] There is provided a display device, including any display
panel mentioned above.
[0022] The display device further includes a top cover covering the
display region of the display panel to provide protection, wherein
the sensing units are attached to a surface of the top cover close
to the display panel.
[0023] In an embodiment, the display panel is a flexible display
panel, and a back face of the sensing region is attached to the
surface of the top cover close to the display panel, and when the
top cover is closed, the sensing region is folded along the folding
line to be provided above the display region.
[0024] Further, the display device further includes a brightness
compensating switch configured to start a brightness detecting and
compensating function.
[0025] There is provided a method of controlling any display device
mentioned above, including:
[0026] triggering the brightness compensating switch to start the
brightness detecting and compensating function;
[0027] displaying test pictures by the display panel;
[0028] collecting brightness signals by the sensing units and
outputting the collected brightness signals.
[0029] amplifying the brightness signals and converting the
brightness signals into digital signals.
[0030] on the basis of corresponding the digital signals to the
respective display sub-regions of the display region, calculating
average values of the corresponding digital signals for the
respective display sub-regions; and
[0031] compensating the respective display sub-regions based on the
calculated results.
[0032] Optionally, the test pictures includes full-white or
full-black pictures of respective primary colors.
[0033] Optionally, the brightness compensating switch is triggered
by closing the top cover.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] In order to explain technical solutions of embodiments of
the present application more clearly, the drawings that are used to
illustrate the embodiments will be described briefly below.
Apparently, the drawings described below only show some of the
embodiments of the present application. One skilled in the art can
obtain other drawings according to these drawings without paying
any inventive efforts.
[0035] FIG. 1 is a schematic view, in cross-section, of a structure
of an OLED display screen having a brightness compensation function
in the prior art;
[0036] FIG. 2 is a schematic view, in plan, of a structure of a
display panel according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0037] FIG. 3 is a first schematic view of a circuit of a display
unit and a sensing unit according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0038] FIG. 4(a) is a first schematic view, in cross-section, of
the structure of the display panel according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure;
[0039] FIG. 4(b) is a second schematic view, in cross-section, of
the structure of the display panel according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure;
[0040] FIG. 5 is a second schematic view of the circuit of the
display unit and the sensing unit according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0041] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the display panel according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the display panel
is folded;
[0042] FIG. 7 is a schematic view, in plan, of a structure of
another display panel according to another embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0043] FIG. 8 is a schematic view, in plan, of a structure of a
further display panel according to a further embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0044] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the display panel shown in
FIG. 8, in which the top cover is closed;
[0045] FIG. 10 is a schematic view, in plan, of a structure of a
yet further display panel according to a yet further embodiment of
the present disclosure;
[0046] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the display panel shown in
FIG. 10, in which the top cover is closed; and
[0047] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a method of controlling a display
panel according to a yet further embodiment .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0048] Technical solutions according to the embodiments of the
present application will be explicitly and completely described
hereinafter with reference to attached drawings. Obviously, the
described embodiments are only some, rather than all, of the
embodiments of the present application.
[0049] The embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display
panel including display units and sensing units configured to
detect brightness of the display units. The display units and the
sensing units are simultaneously formed on different regions of a
same base substrate.
[0050] The display panel according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure includes a plurality of display units and a plurality of
sensing units simultaneously formed on different regions of a same
base substrate. The sensing units are configured to detect
brightness of some of the display units so as to provide a function
of detecting and compensating for the brightness. Generally, the
display unit mainly includes a display device, a thin film
transistor configured for controlling an operation of the display
device and signal lines, and a main component of the sensing unit
is a light-sensing device. Electrodes of the light-sensing device
and signal lines connected with the electrodes may be formed
simultaneously while a metal layer of the thin film transistor is
formed. Generally, a layer of light-sensing material of the
light-sensing device is made of semiconductor material having
light-sensitive property, such as organic photoconductor, Si,
cadmium sulfide, zinc oxide and the like. The sensing unit and the
display unit may be simultaneously formed in a same process by
selecting for an active layer of the thin film transistor of the
display unit the same material as used for the layer of
light-sensing material. Accordingly, in the display panel according
to the embodiment of the present disclosure, no additional
manufacturing process is needed for addition of the sensing unit.
Furthermore, the sensing units formed simultaneously while forming
the display units may be attached to a top cover for the display
region by folding the sensing units (or cutting the sensing units
and then mounting it). After the top cover is closed, the sensing
units cover the display region. Then, test pictures are displayed
to obtain brightness data, and a compensation value is calculated
and stored. After the top cover is opened, compensation is
performed based on the calculated compensation value, so as to
solve the problem that the brightness is uneven. It should be noted
that calculation of the compensation value based on the brightness
data and compensation may be performed by any suitable way well
known for one skilled in the art. The embodiment of the present
disclosure does not limit the suitable way.
[0051] In one example, the layer of light-sensitive material of the
light-sensing device of the sensing unit and the active layer of
the thin film transistor may be made of monocrystalline silicon,
polycrystalline silicon or amorphous silicon, and are formed in a
same process.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 2, as an exemplary example of the
embodiment, the base substrate may be a flexible substrate and is
divided into a display region 100 and a sensing region 200 adjacent
to the display region 100 by a folding line 300. The display units
101 are disposed within the display region 100, and the sensing
units 201 are disposed within the sensing region 200. The sensing
units 201 and the display units 101 are symmetrical with respect to
the folding line 300. Then the sensing units 201 may cover the
display units 101 by folding the sensing region along the folding
line 300, so as to realize the function of detecting brightness.
Further, since the base substrate may be a flexible substrate, the
base substrate may be folded along the folding line 300 without
cutting. Thus, the sensing units 201 may directly extend the signal
lines of the display units 101 to the sensing region so as to drive
without additional driving circuits. During manufacturing, the
signal lines of the sensing units 201 and the signal lines of the
display units 101 may be formed in a same process without
additional process. The respective signal lines required for the
sensing units 201 may extend to a predetermined region and be
connected with an external signal-generating unit and a brightness
data processing unit by a flexible printed circuit (FPC) board.
[0053] It should be noted that the base substrate may be a flexible
substrate that is manufactured by any suitable flexible
manufacturing process in the prior art. The embodiment of the
present disclosure does not limit manufacturing processes for the
base substrate. For example, a flexible substrate may be attached
to a hard substrate firstly, and then manufacturing processes are
performed on the flexible substrate. After completing the
respective manufacturing processes, the flexible substrate will be
removed from the hard substrate.
[0054] In order that one skilled in the art can better understand a
structure of the display panel according to the embodiments of the
present disclosure more clearly, the display panel and the method
of manufacturing the display panel according to the present
disclosure will be explained in detail by referring to the
respective embodiments.
[0055] By taking an OLED flexible display device as an example, the
base substrate of the display panel is a flexible substrate, such
as a polyimide (PI) substrate, and is divided into left and right
portions along the folding line 300. One portion is provided
thereon with the display units 101, and the other portion is
provided thereon with the sensing units 201. The display unit 101
includes an organic light-emitting diode and a first thin film
transistor. The organic light-emitting diode is provided on the
first thin film transistor. The term "first thin film transistor"
is a collective term for thin film transistors configured for
driving circuits hereinafter. The sensing unit 201 includes a
light-sensing diode and a second thin film transistor configured
for controlling output signals of the light-sensing diode. An first
electrode of the light-sensing diode and a source-drain metal layer
of the first thin film transistor are provided in a same layer (in
a case that the first thin film transistor is a bottom gate type
TFT, or the first electrode of the light-sensing diode and a gate
metal layer of the first thin film transistor are provided in a
same layer, the first electrode of the light-sensing diode and the
gate metal layer are provided in a same layer; in a case that the
first thin film transistor is a top gate type TFT, the first
electrode of the light-sensing diode and the source-drain metal
layer are provided in a same layer). A light-sensitive layer of the
light-sensing diode and an active layer of the first thin film
transistor are provided in a same layer, and a second electrode of
the light-sensing diode and an upper electrode of the organic
light-emitting diode facing away the base substrate are provided in
a same layer. The first electrode of the light-sensing diode is an
upper electrode thereof, and the second electrode of the
light-sensing diode is a lower electrode thereof. The second and
first thin film transistors are formed simultaneously, without
requiring any manufacturing process to be added due to introduction
of the sensing units. At a later stage, the sensing region is
folded to be attached to the top cover of the display region. When
the top cover is closed, the sensing units cover the display
region. Then, test pictures are displayed to obtain brightness
data, and a compensation value is calculated and stored. After the
top cover is opened, compensation is performed based on the
calculated compensation value, so as to solve the problem that the
brightness is uneven.
[0056] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the display unit 101
includes a driving transistor T1, a switch transistor T2 and an
organic light-emitting diode D1. A gate line (e.g., Gate n) is
connected to a gate of the switch transistor T2, and a data line
Vdata is connected to a source of the switch transistor T2. A drain
of the switch transistor T2 is connected with a gate of the driving
transistor T1. A source of the driving transistor T1 is applied
with a first work voltage VDD1. A drain of the driving transistor
T1 is connected with the organic light-emitting diode D1. The
sensing unit 201 includes a light-sensing diode G1 and a second
switch transistor T0 configured for controlling output signals of
the light-sensing diode G1. One terminal of the light-sensing diode
G1 is applied with a second work voltage VDD2, and the other
terminal of the light-sensing diode is connected to a source of the
second switch transistor T0. A drain of the second switch
transistor T0 is connected with a sensing signal output line V1. A
gate of the second switch transistor T0 and the display unit 101
are connected to a same gate line (e.g., Gate n), that is, the
display unit 101 and the corresponding sensing unit 201 for testing
the brightness of the display unit 101 are controlled by the same
gate line, and when the organic light-emitting diode D1 of the
display unit 101 emits the light, the second switch transistor T0
is switched on and the sensing unit 201 collects and outputs
brightness signals.
[0057] The driving transistor T1 and the switch transistor T2 (the
first thin film transistor mentioned above is a collective term for
the driving transistor T1 and the switch transistor T2) and the
second switch transistor T0 (i.e., the second thin film transistor
mentioned above) have a same structure and are formed
simultaneously. Accordingly, in a cross-section view of a structure
of the display panel as shown in FIG. 4(a), only one first thin
film transistor (the switch transistor T2 is shown in the figure)
and the organic light-emitting diode D1 are schematically shown in
the display region, and the second switch transistor T0 and the
light-sensing diode G1 are shown in the sensing region. The base
substrate 10 is provided thereon with the gate metal layer 11, a
gate insulating layer 12, the active layer, the source-drain metal
layer 14, a layer 16 of organic light-emitting material and a
transparent conductive layer from top to bottom. The gate metal
layer 11 forms the gate 111 of the first thin film transistor and
gate lines in the display region, the gate 112 of the second switch
transistor T0 and the lower electrode (the first electrode 113) of
the light-sensing diode G1 in the sensing region, and gate lines
extending to the sensing region. The gate insulating layer 12 forms
gate insulating layers of the first thin film transistor and of the
second switch transistor T0 and insulating film layers retained on
other portions where insulation is needed. The active layer forms
the active layer 131 of the first thin film transistor, the active
layer 132 of the second switch transistor T0 and the layer 133 of
light-sensitive material of the light-sensing diode G1. The
source-drain metal layer 14 forms the source and drain of the first
thin film transistor, data lines, the lower electrode 141 of the
organic light-emitting diode D1 and the first work voltage signal
line VDD1 in the display region, and also forms the source and
drain of the second switch transistor T0, a sensing signal output
line V1 and the second work voltage signal line VDD2 in the sensing
region. The source-drain metal layer 14 may be made of metal
material having reflective property, so as to improve
light-emergence efficiency. The layer 16 of organic light-emitting
material forms a light-emitting layer of the organic light-emitting
diode D1. The transparent conductive layer forms the upper
electrode 171 of the organic light-emitting diode D1 and the second
electrode 172 (the upper electrode) of the light-sensing diode
G1.
[0058] FIG. 4(b) shows a structure, in cross-section, of another
exemplary display panel according to the embodiment of the present
disclosure. The structure shown in FIG. 4(b) is different from the
structure shown in FIG. 4(a) in that the drain of the second switch
transistor T0 is connected to the first electrode 113 (the lower
electrode) of the light-sensing diode G1 through a via-hole.
[0059] It should be noted that FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) simply show, in
cross-section, position relations of respective film layers of the
display panel and do not relate to details, such as a pattern of
some film layer. In other words, what is shown in the figures is
not intended to define specific patterns of the respective film
layers, and one skilled in the art can design the patterns
according to actual requirements.
[0060] Further, it should be noted that the display unit 101
mentioned above only includes the organic light-emitting diode D1,
the driving transistor T1 and the switch transistor T2. However,
the present disclosure is not limited to this. The display unit 101
typically may further include compensation circuits configured to
eliminate threshold voltage drift, inconsistency and the like. It
should be noted that since the compensation circuits are typically
formed by thin film transistors, they may be formed simultaneously
while the driving transistor T1 and the switch transistor T2 are
formed. The details of forming the compensation circuits is
therefore omitted in the present disclosure. Further, in the
embodiment of the present disclosure, the sensing unit 201 and the
display unit 101 are controlled by a same gate line, and thus a
mask used for manufacturing the gate metal layer is hardly needed
to be modified, and devices and signal lines of the circuit are
more easily arranged when designed. In practice, however, the
sensing unit 201 may be controlled by a gate line next to the gate
line for controlling the display unit 101, as shown in FIG. 5. That
is, the display unit 101 is controlled by the nth gate line (n is a
natural number), and the sensing unit 201 is controlled by the
n+1th gate line. In this way, when the nth gate line is switched
on, the display unit 101 in the nth row is loaded with display
signals. Then, the nth gate line is switched off and the n+1th gate
line is switched on, and the display unit 101 in the n+1th row is
loaded with display signals. Meanwhile the display unit 101 in the
nth row is retained to be brightened, and the sensing unit provided
above the display unit 101 in the nth row and controlled by the
n+1th gate line collects brightness signals. Such collected signals
are more stable and measurement result is more accurate because an
unstable stage during loading of display signals is skipped.
Similarly, the sensing unit 201 corresponding to the display unit
101 in the nth row may be controlled by other following adjacent
gate lines, such as the n+2th gate line, the n+3th gate line and
the like.
[0061] Further, in a case where the driving transistor T1 and the
switch transistor T2 are in a top-gate structure, the second
electrode of the light-sensing diode G1 may also be provided in the
same layer as that in which the source-drain metal layer of the
thin film transistor lies, and the light-sensitive layer of the
light-sensing diode G1 is still provided in the same layer as that
in which the active layer of the thin film transistor lies. The
upper electrode is required to be made of transparent conductive
material and is not limited to be provided in the same layer as
that in which the upper electrode of the organic light-emitting
diode D1 lies.
[0062] After the manufacturing processes for the display panel
mentioned above have been completed, a protection film is attached
to the display panel. And when other essential processes have been
completed, each display panel is folded along the folding line 300,
and a back face (which forms an upper surface of the folded display
panel) of the sensing region is attached to a surface of the top
cover close to the display panel. When the top cover is opened, the
sensing region of the display panel is unfolded and lies in a same
plane as that where the display region lies. When the top cover is
closed, the sensing region is folded along the folding line 300 to
be provided above the display region. The sensing units 201 in the
sensing region cover the corresponding display units 101. In this
case, a light-receiving side of the diode G1 covers a
light-emitting side of the organic light-emitting diode D1 to
collect brightness of the light emitted from the organic
light-emitting diode D1.
[0063] In a specific illustrative embodiment, the sensing region
200 mentioned above is disposed at a side of the display region 100
and is identical with the display region 100 in size. For example,
as shown in FIG. 2, the sensing region 200 is disposed at the right
side of the display region 100, and a plurality of sensing units
are provided at equal intervals in the sensing region 200.
[0064] FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment in which the sensing
region 200 is disposed at the right side of the display region 100.
The display region 100 includes a plurality of display sub-regions
102, and the sensing region 200 includes a plurality of sensing
sub-regions 202 corresponding to the plurality of display
sub-regions 102 in one-to-one correspondence. Each sensing
sub-region 202 is provided therein with at least one sensing units
201. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the display region is divided
into nine display sub-regions 102, and the sensing region 200 is
also divided into nine sensing sub-regions 202. In each sensing
sub-region 202, one sensing unit 201 is provided to sense the
brightness of the corresponding display sub-region. The sensed
brightness signals are then amplified, and are subject to sequent
processing, such as analog-digital conversion. Finally, an average
value of the brightness signals is calculated to determine
compensation current values required for each sub-region. When the
top cover is opened again, compensation can be performed based on
the determined compensation current values. The sensing region 202
is not limited to be divided into nine sensing sub-regions 202 and
can be divided into many sensing sub-regions. The number of the
sensing units 201 in each sensing sub-region 202 is not limited to
one and may be plural. It should be noted that as the number of the
display sub-regions increases and the number of the sensing units
201 increases, complexity of calculation program or procedure will
be increased accordingly.
[0065] FIGS. 8 and 9 show another alternative embodiment which is
different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 in that the sensing
regions 200 are disposed at two short-side sides of the display
region 100, respectively. When the top cover is closed, the sensing
regions 200 only cover parts of the display region 100 at the left
and right sides thereof. FIGS. 10 and 11 show a similar embodiment
which is different from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 in
that the sensing regions 200 are disposed at two long-side sides of
the display region 100, respectively, that is, the sensing units
201 are arranged along the length direction of the display region
100, and the top cover at the left side of the figure is identical
with the sensing region at the left side in size, and the top cover
at the right side of the figure is greater than the sensing region
at the right side in size. Since no much PI substrate is wasted for
producing a sensing structure, these two embodiments can save cost.
Furthermore, since the sensing units are arranged in a direction
extending either along the maximum side length or along the minimum
side length of the display region, variation trend in brightness of
a screen along a longitudinal direction or a lateral direction can
be substantially sensed after brightness average values for the
respective display sub-regions of the display region have been
calculated, and compensation can be performed accordingly.
[0066] In the display panel according to the embodiments of the
present disclosure, brightness-sensing devices can be formed
without requiring any additional manufacturing process. At a later
stage, the brightness-sensing devices are folded (or are mounted
after being cut off) to be attached to an inner side of the top
cover of the panel. When the top cover is closed, the sensing
devices cover the display region. Then, test pictures are displayed
to obtain brightness data, and compensation values are calculated
and stored. After the top cover is opened, compensation is
performed based on the calculated compensation values, so as to
solve the problem that the brightness is uneven. Since the sensing
devices receive the light emitted from a side of the display panel,
the lower electrode of the light-emitting device close to the base
substrate may be made of reflective material so as to improve
light-emergence efficiency.
[0067] The embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a
display device including any display panel as mentioned above.
Since no additional process is needed for addition of the
brightness-sensing devices in the display device, extra value of a
product can be added without nearly increasing the cost, such that
the display device has a brightness adjusting and compensating
function and provides a more even display brightness, thereby
obtaining good display effects. The display device may be any
product or device that can have a display function, such as a
liquid crystal panel, electronic paper, an OLED panel, a cellphone,
a panel computer, a TV, a displayer, a notebook PC, a digital photo
frame, a navigator and the like.
[0068] Further, the display device according to the embodiments of
the present disclosure is also provided with a brightness
compensating switch configured for enabling a brightness detecting
and compensating function. As shown in FIGS. 8-11, the brightness
compensating switch 21 may be provided at a corner of an edge of
the top cover (or the panel) or at other positions thereof. The
brightness compensating switch 21 may be a physical switch or a
virtual switch. In a case that the brightness compensating switch
21 is a virtual switch, it is only displayed on the panel and no
physical room on the panel is occupied.
[0069] Further, in an embodiment, the brightness compensating
switch may be provided to be associated with the top cover. When
the top cover is closed, the brightness compensating switch is
switched on, and a related program runs in background to realize
the brightness detecting and compensating function.
[0070] In an alternative embodiment, the brightness compensating
switch may be provided to be associated with a shutdown button (be
physical or virtual). When a shutdown instruction is received from
a user, the user may habitually close the top cover, such that the
brightness compensating switch is triggered to be switched on.
Then, the display units display compensated pictures, and the
sensing units collect the brightness signals. The compensation
values are then calculated and stored. When the display device is
started up again, compensation is performed based on the calculated
compensation values. In this way, the problem that the brightness
is uneven can be solved.
[0071] The present embodiment provides a method of manufacturing a
display panel. The method includes providing a base substrate, and
simultaneously forming display units in a display region of the
base substrate and sensing units in a sensing region, adjacent to
the display region, of the same base substrate.
[0072] In the display panel manufactured by the method, the display
units and the sensing units configured for detecting the brightness
of the display units are formed simultaneously. The sensing units
can be formed without requiring any additional manufacturing
process. At a later stage, the sensing units are folded (or are
mounted after being cut off) to be attached to the top cover for
the display region. When the top cover is closed, the sensing units
cover the display region. Then, test pictures are displayed to
obtain brightness data, and a compensation value is calculated and
stored. After the top cover is opened, compensation is performed
based on the calculated compensation value, so as to solve the
problem that the brightness is uneven.
[0073] Specifically, by taking a flexible display device as an
example, the base substrate is a flexible substrate. The display
region and the sensing region are delimited by a folding line and
are symmetrical with respect to the folding line. It should be
noted that the term "symmetrical" herein means that a sensing unit
and a display unit designed to correspond to the sensing unit are
symmetrical with respect to the folding line.
[0074] The display unit includes an organic light-emitting diode
and a first thin film transistor, and the sensing unit includes a
light-sensing diode. The manufacturing processes for the display
panel mainly include a process of forming the first thin film
transistor and a process of forming the light-emitting diode,
wherein a first electrode of the light-sensing diode is
simultaneously formed in the sensing region while a source-drain
metal layer or a gate metal layer of the first thin film transistor
is formed in the display region; a light-sensitive layer of the
light-sensing diode is simultaneously formed in the sensing region
while an active layer of the first thin film transistor is formed
in the display region; and a second electrode of the light-sensing
diode is simultaneously formed in the sensing region while an upper
electrode, facing away the base substrate, of the organic
light-emitting diode is formed in the display region. The sensing
unit further includes a second thin film transistor. The second
thin film transistor is simultaneously formed while the respective
processes for forming the first thin film transistor are performed.
Specific processes may be apparent by referring to the description
about Embodiment 1. A detailed description about the specific
processes is omitted herein.
[0075] After the manufacturing processes for the display panel have
been completed, a protection film may be attached to the display
panel. When other essential processes have been completed, each
display panel is folded along the folding line 300, and a back face
(which forms an upper surface of the folded display panel) of the
sensing region is attached to a surface of the top cover close to
the display panel. When the top cover is closed, the sensing region
of the display panel is changed from an unfolded condition into a
condition of being provided above the display region. At this time,
pictures for brightness test are displayed, and the sensing units
collect the brightness information of the corresponding display
units. The compensation values are then calculated and stored based
on the collected brightness information. When the top cover is
opened, compensation is performed based on the calculated
compensation values. In this way, the problem that the brightness
is uneven can be solved.
[0076] In the method of manufacturing the display panel according
to the embodiment of the present disclosure, brightness sensing
devices can be formed without requiring any additional processes,
and the problem of the brightness being uneven can be solved.
[0077] The embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a
method of controlling a display device including any display panel
mentioned in the embodiments of the present disclosure, that is,
the display panel on which the display units and the sensing units
are formed simultaneously and in which the sensing units are
attached to the top cover of the display region by folding the
sensing units (or being mounted after being cut off) at a later
stage. The method of controlling the display device according to
the present embodiment includes:
[0078] Step 1, triggering the brightness compensating switch to
start up the brightness detecting and compensating function,
wherein optionally the brightness compensating switch may be
triggered by closing the top cover.
[0079] Step 2, displaying test pictures by the display panel,
wherein optionally the test pictures may include full-white or
full-black pictures based on respective primary colors. But, the
present disclosure is not limited to this. The test pictures may be
other test pictures suitable for brightness test.
[0080] Step 3, collecting brightness signals by the sensing units
and outputting the collected brightness signals.
[0081] Step 4, amplifying the brightness signals and converting the
brightness signals into digital signals.
[0082] Step 5, on the basis of corresponding the digital signals to
the respective display sub-regions of the display region,
calculating average values of the corresponding digital signals for
the respective display sub-regions and;
[0083] Step 6, compensating the respective display sub-regions
based on the calculated results.
[0084] As shown in FIG. 12, a specific example is taken to explain
the controlling method mentioned above. Specifically, the
controlling method includes:
[0085] S101 stopping operating a display apparatus/shuts down the
display apparatus by a user,
[0086] S102 closing the top cover attached with the sensing units
to trigger the brightness compensating switch, such that the
brightness compensating switch is switched on and the brightness
compensating function acts in background,
[0087] S103 displaying by the display units the test pictures in
sequence, wherein the test pictures typically may include
full-white or full-black pictures of each primary color, or one or
more grayscale pictures of each primary color,
[0088] S104 with respect to the sensing units, detecting brightness
for each test picture,
[0089] S105 switching off the sensing units,
[0090] S106 amplifying the brightness signals detected by the
sensing units by an amplifier,
[0091] S107 converting the amplified brightness signals into
digital signals by an analog-digital conversion module,
[0092] S108 sending the digital signals to a chip to be processed,
wherein calculations running in the chip mainly include calculating
average values for the display sub-regions of the display region,
calculating compensating values based on the calculated average
values by a predetermined formula and storing the calculated
compensating values into a memory (for example, a flash
memory),
[0093] S109 performing compensation for respective sub-regions
based on the calculated compensation values, when the user starts
up the display apparatus again.
[0094] In an optional embodiment, a brightness detecting function
may be implanted into a shutdown program, and a shutdown picture
may be provided as a test picture required for brightness
detection. When the user shuts down the display apparatus, the top
cover attached with the sensing units is closed to trigger the
brightness compensating switch, and then the brightness
compensating switch is switched on to start up the brightness
detecting and compensating function in background so as to
calculate and store the compensation values. When the user starts
up the display apparatus again, the compensated picture are
displayed. The controlling method according to the present
embodiment accords with use habit of the user without increasing
complexity of operation and also can improve display effects.
[0095] Concerning the above, the present disclosure provides a
display panel, a method of manufacturing the display panel, a
display device and a method of controlling the display device.
According to the present disclosure, the sensing devices may be
simultaneously formed while the display devices are formed, without
requiring additional processes. In particular, a flexible property
of a flexible substrate is employed in the embodiments of the
present disclosure. The sensing devices are simultaneously formed
on the flexible substrate while the display units are formed, and
are attached to the top cover that covers above the light-emitting
region. When the display apparatus is shut down and the top cover
is closed, the brightness data is obtained and the compensation
values are calculated and stored. When the display apparatus is
started up again, compensation is performed based on the
compensation values without requiring any additional process and
hence without increasing cost and power consumption. Also, a
flexible screen can be protected while the brightness is
compensated.
[0096] In the present disclosure, the expressions "first", "second"
and the like are used to distinguish similar components for purpose
of clarity. "First" and "second" are not intended to limit the
number of the components in the present disclosure and are only
illustrative. Based on the teaching of the present disclosure, any
change or modification obvious for one skilled in the art shall
fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.
[0097] The respective embodiments of the present application are
progressively described. Same or similar parts/structures among the
embodiments may be referred with each other. Different
points/contents of an embodiment from other embodiments are
described in details. In particular, since product embodiments
correspond to method embodiments, they are described briefly.
Details of those product embodiments may refer to the relevant
description of the method embodiments.
[0098] One skilled in the art can understand that all or parts of
the processes of the method mentioned above may be performed by
instructing related hardware using a computer program. The computer
program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When
being executed, the program may include the respective processes of
the methods mentioned above. The storage medium may be a disk, an
optical disc, a Read-Only Memory (ROM) or Random Access Memory
(RAM) and so on.
[0099] The above embodiments are only examples of the present
application, but the protection scope of the present application is
not limited to this. It would be appreciated by those skilled in
the art that various modifications or alternations of the above
embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure will also
fall within the scope of the present application. The scope of the
present application is defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *