US-20260130054-A1 - DISPLAY PANEL AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS COMPRISING THE SAME

Abstract

A display panel includes a substrate, pixel electrodes disposed on the substrate and each having an isolated shape, a pixel-defining layer covering an edge of each of the pixel electrodes and defining openings through which central portions of the pixel electrodes are exposed, a common electrode integrally formed as a single unitary indivisible body and disposed over the pixel-defining layer and the pixel electrodes, a first inorganic encapsulation layer disposed on the common electrode, a bank layer disposed on the first inorganic encapsulation layer and defining opening portions corresponding to the openings respectively, polymer lenses arranged in the opening portions, where each of the polymer lenses has a refractive index higher than a refractive index of the bank layer, and an upper surface of each of the polymer lenses has a lens shape, and a second inorganic encapsulation layer covering the bank layer and the polymer lenses.

Inventors

• JinGoo KANG
• Donghoon KWAK
• Dayoung LEE

Assignees

• SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20250912

Priority Date

20241101

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A display panel comprising: a substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes disposed on the substrate, wherein each of the plurality of pixel electrodes has an isolated shape; a pixel-defining layer which covers an edge of each of the plurality of pixel electrodes, wherein openings, through which central portions of the plurality of pixel electrodes are exposed, are defined in the pixel-defining layer; a common electrode disposed above the pixel-defining layer and the plurality of pixel electrodes, and integrally formed as a single unitary indivisible body; a first inorganic encapsulation layer disposed on the common electrode; a bank layer disposed on the first inorganic encapsulation layer, wherein opening portions corresponding to the openings, respectively, are defined in the bank layer; polymer lenses arranged in the opening portions, wherein each of the polymer lenses has a refractive index higher than a refractive index of the bank layer, and an upper surface of each of the polymer lenses has a lens shape; and a second inorganic encapsulation layer which covers the bank layer and the polymer lenses.
2. 2 . The display panel of claim 1 , wherein an area of each of the opening portions in an upper surface of the bank layer is greater than an area of a corresponding one of the openings in a lower surface of the pixel-defining layer.
3. 3 . The display panel of claim 1 , wherein each of the opening portions has a greater area at an upper surface of the bank layer than at a lower surface of the bank layer.
4. 4 . The display panel of claim 1 , wherein a refractive index of the second inorganic encapsulation layer is greater than a refractive index of the polymer lenses.
5. 5 . The display panel of claim 1 , further comprising a black matrix disposed on the second inorganic encapsulation layer and over the bank layer.
6. 6 . The display panel of claim 5 , wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the substrate, the black matrix is located outside the opening portions and the openings.
7. 7 . The display panel of claim 1 , further comprising a touchscreen electrode disposed on the second inorganic encapsulation layer and over the bank layer.
8. 8 . The display panel of claim 7 , wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the substrate, the touchscreen electrode is located outside the opening portions and the openings.
9. 9 . The display panel of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pixel electrodes comprise a first-color pixel electrode, a second-color pixel electrode, and a third-color pixel electrode, and a refractive index of one of the polymer lenses corresponding to the first-color pixel electrode is greater than refractive indices of the polymer lenses corresponding to the second-color pixel electrode and the third-color pixel electrode.
10. 10 . The display panel of claim 1 , wherein the lens shape comprises a convex lens shape.
11. 11 . The display panel of claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the bank layer is hydrophobic, and inner surfaces of the bank layer defining the opening portions are hydrophilic.
12. 12 . An electronic apparatus comprising: a display panel; and a lower cover which constitutes an exterior of the electronic apparatus, wherein an opening, through which a portion of the display panel is exposed, is defined in the lower cover, wherein the display panel comprises: a substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes disposed on the substrate, wherein each of the plurality of pixel electrodes has an isolated shape; a pixel-defining layer which covers an edge of each of the plurality of pixel electrodes, wherein openings, through which central portions of the plurality of pixel electrodes are exposed, are defined in the pixel-defining layer; a common electrode disposed above the pixel-defining layer and the plurality of pixel electrodes, and integrally formed as a single unitary indivisible body; a first inorganic encapsulation layer disposed on the common electrode; a bank layer disposed on the first inorganic encapsulation layer, wherein opening portions corresponding to the openings, respectively, are defined in the bank layer; polymer lenses arranged in the opening portions, wherein each of the polymer lenses has a refractive index higher than a refractive index of the bank layer, and an upper surface of each of the polymer lenses has a lens shape; and a second inorganic encapsulation layer which covers the bank layer and the polymer lenses.
13. 13 . The electronic apparatus of claim 12 , wherein an area of each of the opening portions in an upper surface of the bank layer is greater than an area of a corresponding one of the openings in a lower surface of the pixel-defining layer.
14. 14 . The electronic apparatus of claim 12 , wherein each of the opening portions has a greater area at an upper surface of the bank layer than at a lower surface of the bank layer.
15. 15 . The electronic apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a refractive index of the second inorganic encapsulation layer is greater than a refractive index of the polymer lenses.
16. 16 . The electronic apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a black matrix disposed on the second inorganic encapsulation layer and over the bank layer, wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the substrate, the black matrix is located outside the opening portions and the openings.
17. 17 . The electronic apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a touchscreen electrode disposed on the second inorganic encapsulation layer and over the bank layer, wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the substrate, the touchscreen electrode is located outside the opening portions and the openings.
18. 18 . The electronic apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of pixel electrodes comprise a first-color pixel electrode, a second-color pixel electrode, and a third-color pixel electrode, and a refractive index of one of the polymer lenses corresponding to the first-color pixel electrode is greater than refractive indices of the polymer lenses corresponding to the second-color pixel electrode and the third-color pixel electrode.
19. 19 . The electronic apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the lens shape comprises a convex lens shape.
20. 20 . The electronic apparatus of claim 12 , wherein an upper surface of the bank layer is hydrophobic, and inner surfaces of the bank layer defining the opening portions are hydrophilic.

Description

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0153714, filed on November 1, 2024, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. §119, the content of which in its entirety is herein incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND 1. Field One or more embodiments relate to a display panel and an electronic apparatus including the display panel, and more particularly, to a display panel on which a high-quality image may be displayed, and an electronic apparatus including the display panel. 2. Description of the Related Art Display panels are widely used for various electronic apparatuses. In such display panels, pixels have been reduced in size to improve the resolution and display high-quality images, and thus various elements may be arranged in a narrow area. SUMMARY In conventional display panels and electronic apparatuses including the display panels, a high-quality image may not be effectively displayed due to interference between various elements arranged in a narrow area. One or more embodiments include a display panel on which high-quality images may be displayed, and an electronic apparatus including the display panel. According to one or more embodiments, a display panel includes a substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes disposed on the substrate, where each of the plurality of pixel electrodes has an isolated shape, a pixel-defining layer which covers an edge of each of the plurality of pixel electrodes, where openings, through which central portions of the plurality of pixel electrodes are exposed, are defined in the pixel=defining layer, a common electrode disposed above the pixel-defining layer and the plurality of pixel electrodes, and integrally formed as a single unitary indivisible body, a first inorganic encapsulation layer disposed on the common electrode, a bank layer disposed on the first inorganic encapsulation layer, where opening portions corresponding to the openings, respectively, are defined in the bank layer, polymer lenses arranged in the opening portions, where each of the polymer lenses has a refractive index higher than a refractive index of the bank layer, and an upper surface of each of the polymer lenses has a lens shape, and a second inorganic encapsulation layer which covers the bank layer and the polymer lenses. In an embodiment, an area of each of the opening portions in an upper surface of the bank layer may be greater than an area of a corresponding one of the openings in a lower surface of the pixel-defining layer. In an embodiment, each of the opening portions may have a greater area at an upper surface of the bank layer than at a lower surface of the bank layer. In an embodiment, a refractive index of the second inorganic encapsulation layer may be greater than a refractive index of the polymer lenses. In an embodiment, the display panel may further include a black matrix disposed on the second inorganic encapsulation layer and over the bank layer. In an embodiment, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the substrate, the black matrix may be located outside the opening portions and the openings. In an embodiment, the display panel may further include a touchscreen electrode disposed on the second inorganic encapsulation layer and over the bank layer. In an embodiment, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the substrate, the touchscreen electrode may be located outside the opening portions and the openings. In an embodiment, the plurality of pixel electrodes may include a first-color pixel electrode, a second-color pixel electrode, and a third-color pixel electrode, and a refractive index of one of the polymer lenses corresponding to the first-color pixel electrode may be greater than refractive indices of the polymer lenses corresponding to the second-color pixel electrode and the third-color pixel electrode. In an embodiment, the lens shape may include a convex lens shape. In an embodiment, an upper surface of the bank layer may be hydrophobic, and inner surfaces of the bank layer defining the opening portions may be hydrophilic. According to one or more embodiments, an electronic apparatus includes a display panel, and a lower cover which constitutes an exterior of the electronic apparatus, where an opening, through which a portion of the display panel is exposed, is defined in the lower cover. In such an embodiment, the display panel includes a substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes disposed on the substrate, where each of the plurality of pixel electrodes has an isolated shape, a pixel-defining layer which covers an edge of each of the plurality of pixel electrodes, where openings, through which central portions of the plurality of pixel electrodes are exposed, are defined in the pixel-defining layer, a common electrode disposed above the pixel-defining layer and the plurality of pixel electrodes, and integrally formed as a single unitary indivisible body, a first inorganic encapsulation layer disposed on the co