Transflective display device and driving method

Abstract

The invention discloses a transflective display device and a driving method. The transflective display device comprises a display panel, a backlight module and a black light transmitting layer arranged between the display panel and the backlight module. The display panel comprises a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal layer adopts a TN alignment mode, the display panel is provided with a plurality of pixel units, the second substrate is provided with pixel electrodes corresponding to the pixel units, the first substrate is provided with an upper polaroid and common electrodes matched with the pixel electrodes, the second substrate is provided with a metal wire grid polaroid, and the metal wire grid polaroid is provided with a metal wire grid. And the light-transmitting axis of the metal wire grid polaroid is perpendicular to the light-transmitting axis of the upper polaroid. A display panel adopting a TN display mode is matched with a metal wire grid polaroid, so that transmission display and reflection display can be realized by adopting a single-layer liquid crystal box, and the thickness of the display device is reduced; the black light-transmitting layer is matched, and the black light-transmitting layer can absorb light penetrating through the metal wire grid polaroid, so that the brightness of a black state is reduced, and the contrast ratio during reflection display is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of display technology, and in particular to a transflective display device and a driving method. Background Art

[0002] Display panels are thin, durable, and energy-saving and environmentally friendly with low power consumption, but they need to be used with a backlight, resulting in thick modules and high costs. Electronic paper displays (reflective displays) have become a type of display that meets the needs of the public. Electronic paper displays can use external light sources to display images, unlike LCD displays that require backlights. Therefore, in outdoor environments with strong sunlight, the information on the electronic paper can still be clearly seen without viewing angle issues. In addition, electronic paper displays are now widely used in electronic readers (such as e-books, e-newspapers) or other electronic components (such as price tags) due to their advantages such as power saving, high reflectivity and contrast ratio.

[0003] Existing electronic paper displays usually use E-Ink microcapsule technology (microcapsule electronic ink technology), SiPix microcup technology (microcup electrophoretic display technology), Bridgestone electronic liquid powder technology, cholesteric liquid crystal display (CLCD) technology, micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) technology or electrowetting technology. However, compared with liquid crystal display technology, existing electronic paper display technology is not very mature, mass production efficiency is low, manufacturing cost is relatively high, and existing electronic paper displays cannot achieve color display.

[0004] In order to combine the advantages of transmissive display panels and electronic paper displays, transflective display devices have emerged in the prior art, which can use ambient light and backlight for display at the same time. When the external light source is weak, the backlight can be turned on for light compensation, so that the display can be displayed normally. However, the brightness of the black screen of the existing transflective display device is high when the screen is off or reflected, and the contrast is poor during reflective display; and the existing transflective display device usually needs to set up a double liquid crystal box with a quarter wave plate to achieve the transflective effect, the box thickness is thick, and the manufacturing cost is high. Summary of the invention

[0005] In order to overcome the shortcomings and deficiencies in the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a transflective display device and a driving method to solve the problems of poor contrast and thick box thickness of the transflective display device in the prior art during reflective display.

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0007] The present invention provides a transflective display device, comprising a display panel, a backlight module and a black light-transmitting layer, wherein the display panel and the black light-transmitting layer are both arranged on the light-emitting side of the backlight module, the black light-transmitting layer is located between the display panel and the backlight module, and the black light-transmitting layer can absorb part of the light and transmit another part of the light;

[0008] The display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate arranged opposite to the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer located between the first substrate and the second substrate. The second substrate is provided with a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of data lines on a side facing the liquid crystal layer, which are insulated and crossed to form a plurality of pixel units. A pixel electrode and a thin film transistor are provided in each pixel unit. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the scanning line and the data line adjacent to the thin film transistor through the thin film transistor. The first substrate is provided with a common electrode matched with the pixel electrode on a side facing the liquid crystal layer. The alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer is parallel to the first substrate and the second substrate. The alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer close to the first substrate is perpendicular to the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer close to the second substrate. An upper polarizer is provided on the first substrate. A metal wire grid polarizer formed by a plurality of metal wire grids arranged in parallel and spaced apart is provided on the second substrate. The projection of the metal wire grid polarizer on the second substrate covers all the pixel units. The light transmission axis of the metal wire grid polarizer is perpendicular to the light transmission axis of the upper polarizer. The light reflection axis of the metal wire grid polarizer is parallel to the light transmission axis of the upper polarizer.

[0009] Furthermore, the black light-transmitting layer is a smoked diffuser, and carbon nanotube powder is provided in the smoked diffuser.

[0010] Furthermore, the smoky diffusion sheet includes a substrate, an isolation layer and a smoky diffusion layer, the isolation layer is located on a side of the substrate away from the display panel, the smoky diffusion layer is located on a side of the substrate facing the display panel, and carbon sodium powder is provided in the smoky diffusion layer.

[0011] Furthermore, the black light-transmitting layer is a smoked adhesive layer, the smoked adhesive layer includes carbon sodium powder and glue mixed with each other, and the smoked adhesive layer is adhered to a side of the second substrate away from the liquid crystal layer.

[0012] Furthermore, the transflective display device includes an upper diffusion sheet, which is bonded to a side of the second substrate away from the liquid crystal layer through the smoky adhesive layer, and the smoky adhesive layer is located between the upper diffusion sheet and the second substrate.

[0013] Furthermore, each of the metal wire grids runs through the entire column of pixel units along the extension direction of the data line;

[0014] Or, each of the metal wire grids runs through the entire row of pixel units along the extension direction of the scan line;

[0015] Alternatively, the metal wire grid polarizer is reused as the pixel electrode, each of the metal wire grids corresponds to one of the pixel units, and a plurality of the metal wire grids in each of the pixel units are interconnected.

[0016] Furthermore, a black matrix and a color resist layer are provided on the first substrate, the black matrix separates the plurality of color resist layers from each other, and the color resist layers correspond to the pixel units one by one.

[0017] The present application also provides a driving method of a transflective display device, which is used to drive the transflective display device as described above, and the driving method includes:

[0018] In the reflective display mode, the backlight module is turned off and a first gamma driving signal is applied to the display panel to control the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in the area corresponding to the pixel unit with the lowest grayscale brightness to maintain an initial state, and to control the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in the area corresponding to the pixel unit with the highest grayscale brightness to be perpendicular to the first substrate and the second substrate;

[0019] In the transmission display mode, the backlight module is turned on and a second gamma drive signal is applied to the display panel to control the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in the area corresponding to the pixel unit with the lowest grayscale brightness to be perpendicular to the first substrate and the second substrate, and to control the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in the area corresponding to the pixel unit with the highest grayscale brightness to maintain their initial state.

[0020] Furthermore, the driving method includes:

[0021] Monitoring the ambient light brightness and determining whether the ambient light brightness is greater than a preset value;

[0022] When the ambient light brightness is greater than a preset brightness, the reflective display mode is turned on; when the ambient light brightness is less than or equal to the preset brightness, the transmissive display mode is turned on.

[0023] Furthermore, the driving method includes:

[0024] The reflective display mode and the transmissive display mode both include grayscale brightness of 0-255, and the grayscale voltage corresponding to the grayscale brightness of 0+N in the reflective display mode is equal to the grayscale voltage corresponding to the grayscale brightness of 255-N in the transmissive display mode;

[0025] Wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

[0026] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: by adopting a display panel of TN display mode in combination with a metal wire grid polarizer, the light transmission axis of the metal wire grid polarizer is perpendicular to the light transmission axis of the upper polarizer, so that transmission display and reflection display can be achieved by using a single-layer liquid crystal box, and the metal wire grid polarizer can also replace the lower polarizer, so there is no need to set the lower polarizer, which greatly reduces the thickness of the display device; in addition, in combination with a black light-transmitting layer, during reflective display, the black light-transmitting layer can absorb ambient light passing through the metal wire grid polarizer to reduce the brightness of the black state, improve the contrast during reflective display and the integrated black effect when the screen is off, and can block Mura during transmission display, greatly improving the display quality. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the transflective display device in the initial state in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the second substrate in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the principle of the metal wire grid polarizer in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a smoke diffusion sheet in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of the transflective display device in the reflective display mode in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 6 The present invention Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the principle of the highest grayscale brightness pixel unit;

[0033] Figure 7 The present invention Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the principle of the middle grayscale brightness pixel unit;

[0034] Figure 8 The present invention Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the principle of the lowest grayscale brightness pixel unit;

[0035] Fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of the transflective display device in the first embodiment of the present invention in the transmissive display mode;

[0036] Fig.10 The present invention Fig. 9 Schematic diagram of the principle of the lowest grayscale brightness pixel unit;

[0037] Fig.11 The present invention Fig. 9Schematic diagram of the principle of the middle grayscale brightness pixel unit;

[0038] Fig.12 The present invention Fig. 9 Schematic diagram of the principle of the highest grayscale brightness pixel unit;

[0039] Fig.13 is a flowchart of a driving method of a transflective display device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0040] Fig.14 is a grayscale brightness curve chart of the transflective display device in the reflective display mode in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Fig.15 is a VT curve chart of the transflective display device in the reflective display mode in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Fig.16 is a grayscale brightness curve chart of the transflective display device in the transmissive display mode in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Fig.17 is a VT curve chart of the transflective display device in the transmission display mode in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Fig.18 is a schematic structural diagram of a transflective display device in an initial state in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0045] Fig.19 is a schematic structural diagram of the transflective display device in the initial state in the third embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Fig. 20 It is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the second substrate in the third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] In order to further explain the technical means and effects adopted by the present invention to achieve the predetermined invention purpose, the specific implementation methods, structures, features and effects of the transflective display device and driving method proposed in the present invention are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments:

[0048] [Example 1]

[0049] Figure 1 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the transflective display device in the initial state in the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the second substrate in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, a transflective display device provided by the first embodiment of the present invention includes a display panel, a backlight module and a black light-transmitting layer 61. The display panel and the black light-transmitting layer 61 are both arranged on the light-emitting side of the backlight module. The black light-transmitting layer 61 is located between the display panel and the backlight module. The black light-transmitting layer 61 can absorb part of the light and transmit another part of the light. The backlight module is used to provide a backlight source for the display panel. Among them, the transmittance and absorbance of the black light-transmitting layer 61 can be adjusted according to actual needs. For example, the transmittance range of the black light-transmitting layer 61 can be set between 5% and 90%. By setting a black light-transmitting layer 61 between the display panel and the backlight module, in the reflective display mode, the black light-transmitting layer 61 can absorb the ambient light passing through the display panel to reduce the brightness of the black state, improve the contrast during reflective display and the integrated black effect when the screen is off, and can block Mura during transmissive display, greatly improving the display taste.

[0051] The display panel includes a first substrate 10, a second substrate 20 disposed opposite to the first substrate 10, and a liquid crystal layer 30 located between the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20. The first substrate 10 is located on a side of the display panel close to the external environment, and the second substrate 20 is located on a side of the display panel close to the backlight module. In this embodiment, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 30 are positive liquid crystal molecules (liquid crystal molecules with positive dielectric anisotropy), such as Figure 1 As shown, in the initial state, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 30 are positive liquid crystal molecules and are in a lying posture, the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer 30 is parallel to the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20, and the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer 30 close to the first substrate 10 is perpendicular to the alignment direction close to the second substrate 20, that is, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 30 are twisted 90° from the first substrate 10 toward the second substrate 20 to form a TN display mode.

[0052] like Figure 2 As shown, the second substrate 20 is an array substrate. On the side facing the liquid crystal layer 30, the second substrate 20 is defined by a plurality of scan lines 1 and a plurality of data lines 2 that are insulated and cross-defined to form a plurality of pixel units P. A pixel electrode 22 and a thin film transistor 3 are provided in each pixel unit P. The pixel electrode 22 is electrically connected to the scan line 1 and the data line 2 adjacent to the thin film transistor 3 through the thin film transistor 3. Among them, the thin film transistor 3 includes a gate, an active layer, a drain and a source. The gate and the scan line 1 are located in the same layer and are electrically connected. The gate and the active layer are separated by an insulating layer. The source is electrically connected to the data line 2, and the drain is electrically connected to the pixel electrode 22 through a contact hole. The first substrate 10 is provided with a common electrode 13 that cooperates with the pixel electrode 22 on the side facing the liquid crystal layer 30. The pixel electrode 22 is a block structure corresponding to the pixel unit P, and the common electrode 13 is a planar structure that covers the entire surface of the first substrate 10.

[0053] An upper polarizer 40 is provided on the first substrate 10, and a metal wire grid polarizer 21 formed by a plurality of metal wire grids 211 arranged in parallel and spaced relation is provided on the second substrate 20. The projection of the metal wire grid polarizer 21 on the second substrate 20 covers all the pixel units P, the light transmission axis of the metal wire grid polarizer 21 is perpendicular to the light transmission axis of the upper polarizer 40, and the light reflection axis of the metal wire grid polarizer 21 is parallel to the light transmission axis of the upper polarizer 40. The alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer 30 on the side close to the first substrate 10 is parallel to the light transmission axis of the upper polarizer 40, and the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer 30 on the side close to the second substrate 20 is parallel to the light transmission axis of the metal wire grid polarizer 21. The metal wire grid polarizer 21 and the pixel electrode 22 are located in different layers and are spaced apart from each other by an insulating layer. Optionally, the metal wire grid polarizer 21 is located on the side of the pixel electrode 22 away from the liquid crystal layer 30. By adopting a display panel with a TN display mode and a metal wire grid polarizer 21, the light transmission axis of the metal wire grid polarizer 21 is perpendicular to the light transmission axis of the upper polarizer, so that transmission display and reflection display can be achieved using a single-layer liquid crystal box. Moreover, the metal wire grid polarizer can also replace the lower polarizer, so there is no need to set a lower polarizer, which greatly reduces the thickness of the display device.

[0054] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the principle of the metal wire grid polarizer in the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 As shown, the metal wire grid polarizer 21 has a special polarization property, that is, it transmits polarized light perpendicular to the extension direction of the metal wire grid 211 and reflects polarized light parallel to the extension direction of the metal wire grid 211. In the incident light A, the polarization directions of the light have a first polarized light a1 perpendicular to the extension direction of the metal wire grid 211 and a second polarized light a2 parallel to the extension direction of the metal wire grid 211, and the first polarized light a1 perpendicular to the extension direction of the metal wire grid 211 can pass through the metal wire grid polarizer 21 to form a transmitted light C, and the second polarized light a2 parallel to the extension direction of the metal wire grid 211 will be reflected to form a reflected light B. For a more detailed introduction to the metal wire grid polarizer 21, please refer to the prior art, which will not be repeated here.

[0055] Furthermore, the extension direction of each metal wire grid 211 is parallel to the extension direction of the data line 2, and each metal wire grid 211 runs through the entire column of pixel units P along the extension direction of the data line 2. Alternatively, the extension direction of each metal wire grid 211 is parallel to the extension direction of the scan line 1, and each metal wire grid 211 runs through the entire row of pixel units P along the extension direction of the scan line 1.

[0056] In this embodiment, the black light-transmitting layer 61 is a smoked diffuser, in which carbon nanopowder is provided, that is, when a conventional diffuser is made, carbon nanopowder is mixed into the material of the diffuser, thereby reducing the light transmittance of the diffuser. The light transmittance of the smoked diffuser can be adjusted according to actual needs, for example, the light transmittance range can be set between 5% and 90%. A black substrate can be realized during reflective display, the brightness of the black state can be reduced, the contrast during reflective display and the integrated black effect when the screen is off can be improved, and Mura can be blocked during transmissive display to improve the display taste.

[0057] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the smoke diffuser in the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 As shown, the smoked diffusion sheet includes a substrate 611, an isolation layer 612 and a smoked diffusion layer 613. The isolation layer 612 is located on the side of the substrate 611 away from the display panel, and the smoked diffusion layer 613 is located on the side of the substrate 611 facing the display panel. Carbon nano powder is provided in the smoked diffusion layer 613. The substrate 611 is made of PET (Polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate plastics), and the smoked diffusion layer 613 is made of inorganic particles or polymer particles with carbon nano powder, and is dried at high temperature to remove the solvent, harden, etc. The light transmittance and black effect can be adjusted by adding carbon nano powder according to actual needs.

[0058] In this embodiment, the first substrate 10 is a color filter substrate, and a black matrix 11 and a color resist layer 12 are provided on the first substrate 10. The black matrix 11 separates the plurality of color resist layers 12 from each other, and the color resist layers 12 correspond to the pixel units P one by one. The color resist layer 12 includes color resist materials of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and forms pixel units P of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) correspondingly, so that the transflective display device can realize color reflective display and color transmissive display. Of course, in other embodiments, the first substrate 10 may not be provided with a color resist layer 12, and the first substrate 10 is in a transparent state in the area corresponding to the pixel unit P, so that the transflective display device can realize black and white reflective display and black and white transmissive display.

[0059] The first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20 may be made of materials such as glass, acrylic and polycarbonate. The materials of the common electrode 13 and the pixel electrode 22 may be indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO). The material of the metal wire grid polarizer 21 includes Al (aluminum) or Mo (molybdenum), and the metal wire grid 211 may be printed using nanoimprint technology (or other related technologies).

[0060] In this embodiment, the backlight module is an edge-entry backlight module, including an edge-entry light source 51, a light guide plate 52, a reflective layer 53, a lower diffuser 54, and a prism sheet 55. The edge-entry light source 51 is arranged on the side of the light guide plate 52, and the reflective layer 53, the light guide plate 52, the lower diffuser 54, and the prism sheet 55 are stacked in sequence on the side facing the display panel, and the black light-transmitting layer 61 is located between the prism sheet 55 and the display panel. Among them, the black light-transmitting layer 61 can be attached to the backlight module, so as to form a whole with the backlight module.

[0061] The present application also provides a driving method of a transflective display device, which is used to drive the transflective display device as described above. The driving method comprises:

[0062] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the structure of the transflective display device in the reflective display mode in the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 As shown, in the reflective display mode, the backlight module is turned off and a first gamma driving signal is applied to the display panel. The microcontroller unit (MCU) can output the first gamma driving signal to the display panel. The first gamma driving signal can be pre-stored in a register, and the timing is controlled by a timing controller (TCON). The liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 30 in the area corresponding to the pixel unit P of the lowest grayscale brightness (black state) are kept in the initial state, and the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 30 in the area corresponding to the pixel unit P of the highest grayscale brightness are perpendicular to the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20, while the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 30 in the area corresponding to the pixel unit P of the intermediate grayscale brightness are in a tilted state, wherein the brightness value of the intermediate grayscale brightness is between the brightness value of the lowest grayscale brightness and the brightness value of the highest grayscale brightness. Figure 5 The red pixel unit P has the highest grayscale brightness, the green pixel unit P has the middle grayscale brightness, and the blue pixel unit P has the lowest grayscale brightness. For example, the reflective display mode includes 0-255 grayscale brightness, the lowest grayscale brightness is 0 grayscale brightness, the highest grayscale brightness is 255 grayscale brightness, and the middle grayscale brightness is any grayscale brightness between 0 grayscale brightness and 255 grayscale brightness.

[0063] Figure 6 The present invention Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the principle of the highest grayscale brightness pixel unit. Figure 6 As shown, for the highest grayscale brightness ( Figure 5 For the red pixel unit P), the external ambient light I passes through the upper polarizer 40 to form a first direction linear polarized light (for example, 0° linear polarized light) parallel to the light transmission axis of the upper polarizer 40, passes through the liquid crystal layer 30 and is reflected back by the metal wire grid polarizer 21, and then passes through the liquid crystal layer 30 again and is emitted from the upper polarizer 40, so that the red pixel unit P presents the highest grayscale brightness. Figure 7 The present invention Figure 5Schematic diagram of the principle of the middle grayscale brightness pixel unit. Figure 7 As shown, for the middle grayscale brightness ( Figure 5 For the green pixel unit P), the external ambient light I passes through the upper polarizer 40 to form a first direction linear polarized light (for example, 0° linear polarized light) parallel to the light transmission axis of the upper polarizer 40, and passes through the liquid crystal layer 30 to form elliptically polarized light or circularly polarized light. Part of the light is reflected back by the metal wire grid polarizer 21, and is emitted from the upper polarizer 40 after passing through the liquid crystal layer 30 again. Another part of the light passes through the metal wire grid polarizer 21 and is absorbed by the black light-transmitting layer 61, so that the green pixel unit P has an intermediate grayscale brightness, wherein the brightness value of the intermediate grayscale brightness can be controlled by the grayscale voltage applied to the pixel electrode 22. Figure 8 The present invention Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the principle of the lowest grayscale brightness pixel unit. Figure 8 As shown, for the middle grayscale brightness ( Figure 5 For the blue pixel unit P), the external ambient light I passes through the upper polarizer 40 to form a first direction linear polarized light (for example, 0° linear polarized light) parallel to the light transmission axis of the upper polarizer 40, and the deflection direction is rotated 90° when passing through the liquid crystal layer 30 to form a second direction linear polarized light (for example, 90° linear polarized light), and then passes through the metal wire grid polarizer 21, and a part of it is absorbed by the black light-transmitting layer 61, and the other part is emitted to the backlight module, with almost no reflected light, so that the blue pixel unit P has the lowest grayscale brightness (black state).

[0064] Fig. 9 Schematic diagram of the structure of the transflective display device in the first embodiment of the present invention in the transmissive display mode. Fig. 9 As shown, in the transmission display mode, the backlight module is turned on and a second gamma driving signal is applied to the display panel. The microcontroller unit (MCU) can output the second gamma driving signal to the display panel. The second gamma driving signal can be pre-stored in a register, and the timing is controlled by a timing controller (TCON). The liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 30 corresponding to the pixel unit P with the lowest grayscale brightness are perpendicular to the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20, and the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 30 corresponding to the pixel unit P with the highest grayscale brightness are kept in the initial state, while the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 30 corresponding to the pixel unit P with the intermediate grayscale brightness are in a tilted state, wherein the brightness value of the intermediate grayscale brightness is between the brightness value of the lowest grayscale brightness and the brightness value of the highest grayscale brightness. Fig. 9The red pixel unit P is the lowest grayscale brightness, the green pixel unit P is the middle grayscale brightness, and the blue pixel unit P is the highest grayscale brightness. For example, the transmissive display mode includes 0-255 grayscale brightness, the lowest grayscale brightness is 0 grayscale brightness, the highest grayscale brightness is 255 grayscale brightness, and the middle grayscale brightness is any grayscale brightness between 0 grayscale brightness and 255 grayscale brightness.

[0065] Fig.10 The present invention Fig. 9 Schematic diagram of the principle of the lowest grayscale brightness pixel unit. Fig.10 As shown, for the lowest grayscale brightness ( Fig. 9 For the red pixel unit P), the light BL from the backlight source passes through the metal wire grid polarizer 21 to form a second direction linear polarized light (e.g., 90° linear polarized light) parallel to the light transmission axis of the metal wire grid polarizer 21, and another part of the first direction linear polarized light (e.g., 0° linear polarized light) is reflected back by the metal wire grid polarizer 21 for reuse; wherein, the second direction linear polarized light passes through the liquid crystal layer 30 and is absorbed by the upper polarizer 40, so that the red pixel unit P presents the lowest grayscale brightness (black state). Fig.11 The present invention Fig. 9 Schematic diagram of the principle of the middle grayscale brightness pixel unit. Fig.11 As shown, for the middle grayscale brightness ( Fig. 9 For the green pixel unit P), the light BL from the backlight source passes through the metal wire grid polarizer 21 to form a second direction linear polarized light (e.g., 90° linear polarized light) parallel to the light transmission axis of the metal wire grid polarizer 21, and another part of the first direction linear polarized light (e.g., 0° linear polarized light) is reflected back by the metal wire grid polarizer 21 for reuse; wherein, the second direction linear polarized light passes through the liquid crystal layer 30 to form elliptically polarized light or circularly polarized light, part of the light is absorbed by the upper polarizer 40, and another part of the light passes through the upper polarizer 40 and is emitted from the upper polarizer 40, thereby making the green pixel unit P present an intermediate grayscale brightness. Fig.12 The present invention Fig. 9 Schematic diagram of the principle of the highest grayscale brightness pixel unit. Fig.12 As shown, for the highest grayscale brightness ( Fig. 9 For the blue pixel unit P), the light BL from the backlight source passes through the metal wire grid polarizer 21 to form a second direction linear polarized light (e.g., 90° linear polarized light) parallel to the light transmission axis of the metal wire grid polarizer 21, and another part of the first direction linear polarized light (e.g., 0° linear polarized light) is reflected back by the metal wire grid polarizer 21 for reuse; wherein, when the second direction linear polarized light passes through the liquid crystal layer 30, the deflection direction is rotated 90° and forms the first direction linear polarized light (e.g., 0° linear polarized light), and then passes through the upper polarizer 40 and is emitted from the upper polarizer 40, so that the blue pixel unit P presents the highest grayscale brightness.

[0066] Fig.14 1 is a grayscale brightness curve chart of the transflective display device in the reflective display mode in the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig.15 1 is a VT curve chart of the transflective display device in the reflective display mode in the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig.16 1 is a grayscale brightness curve chart of the transflective display device in the transmissive display mode in the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig.17 2 is a VT curve chart of the transflective display device in the transmissive display mode in the first embodiment of the present invention. Figures 14 to 17 As shown, both the reflective display mode and the transmissive display mode include 0-255 grayscale brightness, and the 0-255 grayscale brightness of the pixel unit P is controlled by the grayscale voltage applied to the pixel electrode 22, wherein the grayscale voltage includes 0-255 grayscale voltage, and the grayscale voltage of the reflective display mode is different from the grayscale voltage of the transmissive display mode, so the transmissive display device requires two gamma drive signals, namely the first gamma drive signal and the second gamma drive signal. Specifically, the grayscale voltage corresponding to the 0+N grayscale brightness in the reflective display mode is equal to the grayscale voltage corresponding to the 255-N grayscale brightness in the transmissive display mode, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

[0067] Fig.13 FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a driving method of a transflective display device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig.13 As shown, the driving method includes:

[0068] Monitor the brightness of the ambient light and determine whether the brightness of the ambient light is greater than a preset value. For example, the brightness of the ambient light can be monitored by a light sensor on the transflective display device.

[0069] When the ambient light brightness is greater than the preset brightness, the reflective display mode is turned on, so that the first gamma drive signal is applied to the display panel, specifically, the micro control unit (MCU) outputs the first gamma drive signal to the display panel, the first gamma drive signal can be pre-stored in the register, and the timing is controlled by the timing controller (TCON), and the timing controller simultaneously controls the backlight module to turn off. When the ambient light brightness is less than or equal to the preset brightness, the transmissive display mode is turned on, and the second gamma drive signal is applied to the display panel, specifically, the micro control unit (MCU) outputs the second gamma drive signal to the display panel, the second gamma drive signal can be pre-stored in the register, and the timing is controlled by the timing controller (TCON), and the timing controller simultaneously controls the backlight module to turn on.

[0070] [Example 2]

[0071] Fig.18 Schematic diagram of the structure of the transflective display device in the initial state in the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig.18As shown, the transflective display device and driving method provided in the second embodiment of the present invention are similar to those provided in the first embodiment ( Figures 1 to 17 ) are substantially the same, except that, in this embodiment:

[0072] The black light-transmitting layer 61 is a smoked adhesive layer, which includes carbon nanopowder and glue mixed with each other. The smoked adhesive layer is bonded to the side of the second substrate 20 away from the liquid crystal layer 30. For example, the smoked adhesive layer is formed by adding carbon nanopowder into transparent OCA glue.

[0073] Furthermore, the transflective display device includes an upper diffuser 62, which is bonded to a side of the second substrate 20 away from the liquid crystal layer 30 through a smoky adhesive layer, and the smoky adhesive layer is located between the upper diffuser 62 and the second substrate 20, so that the display panel, the upper diffuser 62, and the black light-transmitting layer 61 form a whole.

[0074] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the rest of the structure and working principle of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment and will not be described in detail here.

[0075] [Example 3]

[0076] Fig.19 3 is a schematic structural diagram of the transflective display device in the initial state in the third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 20 Schematic diagram of the planar structure of the second substrate in the third embodiment of the present invention. Fig.19 and Fig. 20 As shown, the transflective display device and driving method provided in the third embodiment of the present invention are similar to those provided in the first embodiment ( Figures 1 to 17 )、Example 2 ( Fig.18 ) are substantially the same, except that, in this embodiment:

[0077] The metal wire grid polarizer 21 is reused as the pixel electrode 22, each metal wire grid 211 corresponds to a pixel unit P, and multiple metal wire grids 211 in each pixel unit P are connected to each other. That is, in this embodiment, the metal wire grid polarizer 21 and the pixel electrode 22 are the same component, and the metal wire grid polarizer 21 only needs to be divided into blocks corresponding to the pixel units P. Since the metal wire grid polarizer 21 is made of metal such as Al (aluminum) or Mo (molybdenum), it has good conductivity. By reusing the metal wire grid polarizer 21 as the pixel electrode 22, not only the impedance of the pixel electrode 22 can be reduced, but also the box thickness, manufacturing process and manufacturing cost of the transflective display device can be reduced.

[0078] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the rest of the structure and working principle of this embodiment are the same as those of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, and will not be described in detail here.

[0079] In this document, the directional words such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are defined by the positions of the structures in the drawings and the positions of the structures relative to each other, just for the sake of clarity and convenience in expressing the technical solution. It should be understood that the use of the directional words should not limit the scope of protection claimed in this application. It should also be understood that the terms "first" and "second" used in this document are only used to distinguish names and are not used to limit quantity and order.

[0080] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the present invention in any form. Although the present invention has been disclosed as a preferred embodiment as above, it is not used to limit the present invention. Any technician familiar with this profession can make some changes or modifications to the technical contents disclosed above without departing from the scope of the technical solution of the present invention, which are equivalent embodiments of equivalent changes. However, any simple modification, equivalent change and modification made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the content of the technical solution of the present invention still fall within the protection scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A transflective display device, It is characterized in that It comprises a display panel, a backlight module and a black light-transmitting layer (61), wherein the display panel and the black light-transmitting layer (61) are both arranged on the light-emitting side of the backlight module, the black light-transmitting layer (61) is located between the display panel and the backlight module, and the black light-transmitting layer (61) can absorb part of the light and transmit another part of the light; The display panel comprises a first substrate (10), a second substrate (20) arranged opposite to the first substrate (10), and a liquid crystal layer (30) located between the first substrate (10) and the second substrate (20); the second substrate (20) is provided with a plurality of scan lines (1) and a plurality of data lines (2) on a side facing the liquid crystal layer (30) to form a plurality of pixel units (P); each pixel unit (P) is provided with a pixel electrode (22) and a thin film transistor (3); the pixel electrode (22) is electrically connected to the scan line (1) and the data line (2) adjacent to the thin film transistor (3) through the thin film transistor (3); the first substrate (10) is provided with a common electrode (13) matched with the pixel electrode (22) on a side facing the liquid crystal layer (30); The alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer (30) is parallel to the first substrate (10) and the second substrate (20); the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer (30) on the side close to the first substrate (10) is perpendicular to the alignment direction on the side close to the second substrate (20); an upper polarizer (40) is provided on the first substrate (10); a metal wire grid polarizer (21) formed by a plurality of metal wire grids (211) arranged in parallel and spaced relation is provided on the second substrate (20); a projection of the metal wire grid polarizer (21) on the second substrate (20) covers all the pixel units (P); a light transmission axis of the metal wire grid polarizer (21) is perpendicular to the light transmission axis of the upper polarizer (40); and a light reflection axis of the metal wire grid polarizer (21) is parallel to the light transmission axis of the upper polarizer (40).

2. The transflective display device according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The black light-transmitting layer (61) is a smoked diffusion sheet, and carbon nanotube powder is provided in the smoked diffusion sheet.

3. The transflective display device according to claim 2, It is characterized in that The smoky diffusion sheet comprises a substrate (611), an isolation layer (612) and a smoky diffusion layer (613), wherein the isolation layer (612) is located on a side of the substrate (611) away from the display panel, and the smoky diffusion layer (613) is located on a side of the substrate (611) facing the display panel, and carbon nanotubes are provided in the smoky diffusion layer (613).

4. The transflective display device according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The black light-transmitting layer (61) is a smoked glue layer, the smoked glue layer comprises carbon sodium powder and glue mixed with each other, and the smoked glue layer is bonded to a side of the second substrate (20) away from the liquid crystal layer (30).

5. The transflective display device according to claim 4, It is characterized in that The transflective display device comprises an upper diffusion sheet (62), wherein the upper diffusion sheet (62) is bonded to a side of the second substrate (20) away from the liquid crystal layer (30) via the smoky adhesive layer, and the smoky adhesive layer is located between the upper diffusion sheet (62) and the second substrate (20).

6. The transflective display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, It is characterized in that Each of the metal wire grids (211) runs through the entire column of pixel units (P) along the extension direction of the data line (2); Or, each of the metal wire grids (211) runs through the entire row of pixel units (P) along the extension direction of the scanning line (1); Alternatively, the metal wire grid polarizer (21) is reused as the pixel electrode (22), each metal wire grid (211) corresponds to one pixel unit (P), and a plurality of metal wire grids (211) in each pixel unit (P) are interconnected.

7. The transflective display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, It is characterized in that A black matrix (11) and a color resist layer (12) are provided on the first substrate (10); the black matrix (11) separates a plurality of the color resist layers (12) from each other; and the color resist layers (12) correspond to the pixel units (P) one by one.

8. A driving method of a transflective display device, It is characterized in that Used to drive the transflective display device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the driving method comprising: In the reflective display mode, the backlight module is turned off and a first gamma driving signal is applied to the display panel to control the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer (30) in the area corresponding to the pixel unit (P) with the lowest grayscale brightness to maintain an initial state, and to control the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer (30) in the area corresponding to the pixel unit (P) with the highest grayscale brightness to be perpendicular to the first substrate (10) and the second substrate (20); In the transmission display mode, the backlight module is turned on and a second gamma driving signal is applied to the display panel to control the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer (30) in the area corresponding to the pixel unit (P) with the lowest grayscale brightness to be perpendicular to the first substrate (10) and the second substrate (20), and to control the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer (30) in the area corresponding to the pixel unit (P) with the highest grayscale brightness to maintain an initial state.

9. The driving method of the transflective display device according to claim 8, It is characterized in that The driving method comprises: Monitoring the ambient light brightness and determining whether the ambient light brightness is greater than a preset value; When the ambient light brightness is greater than a preset brightness, the reflective display mode is turned on; when the ambient light brightness is less than or equal to the preset brightness, the transmissive display mode is turned on.

10. The driving method of the transflective display device according to claim 8, It is characterized in that The driving method comprises: The reflective display mode and the transmissive display mode both include grayscale brightness of 0-255, and the grayscale voltage corresponding to the grayscale brightness of 0+N in the reflective display mode is equal to the grayscale voltage corresponding to the grayscale brightness of 255-N in the transmissive display mode; Wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

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