Liquid crystal module based on natural environment light total reflection, display equipment and control method thereof

Through the liquid crystal module based on total reflection of natural ambient light, the polarized light modulation mechanism of the reflective layer and the liquid crystal layer is used, and combined with the electric field to drive the deflection of liquid crystal molecules, the problems of high power consumption, poor ambient light adaptability and blue light radiation of traditional LCDs are solved, achieving high efficiency, energy-saving, full color, and uniform display effects.

CN120491354APending Publication Date: 2025-08-15SHENZHEN HUIHE TECHNOLOGY NEW MATERIALS CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202510899642.8
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-07-01
Publication Date
2025-08-15

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Traditional transmissive liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have problems such as high power consumption, poor ambient light adaptability, risk of blue light radiation and insufficient color expression, especially in outdoor strong light environments.

Method used

The liquid crystal module based on total reflection of natural ambient light is adopted, and the polarization light modulation-reflection imaging mechanism is used to coordinate the ambient light modulation and liquid crystal layer to modulate the ambient light, and the electric field drives the deflection of the liquid crystal molecules to achieve backlight-free display, and dynamically adjust the display effect through double polarization modulation and voltage adaptive regulation.

Benefits of technology

Significantly reduce energy consumption, eliminate the risk of blue light radiation, improve display uniformity and contrast, solve the problem of flickering under strong outdoor light, and realize the shadowless display and full-color image presentation under high dynamic light.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of display equipment, in particular to a liquid crystal module based on natural environment light total reflection, display equipment and a control method thereof. The liquid crystal module based on total reflection of natural environment light comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer and a reflecting layer, liquid crystal molecule arrangement of the liquid crystal layer can be regulated and controlled so that reflected environment light can form images of different gray levels or colors, and the reflecting layer is used for reflecting the environment light to the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer and the reflecting layer are arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, a polaroid is arranged on the surface, facing the display side, of the first substrate, and a shading layer is arranged on the side, back to the liquid crystal layer, of the second substrate. The reflecting layer and the liquid crystal layer are combined to cooperatively modulate ambient light, so that energy-saving display without backlight is realized; and meanwhile, the double-substrate structure ensures stable packaging of the optical component 0, and the display uniformity is improved.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of display devices, and in particular to a liquid crystal module, a display device and a control method thereof based on total reflection of natural ambient light. Background Art

[0002] Traditional transmissive liquid crystal displays (LCDs) use a backlight to generate light, which is then modulated by the liquid crystal layer to form an image that is displayed on the screen. However, this display method has many problems: 1. The technical root of the high power consumption issue: The backlight, a core component of a transmissive LCD, typically accounts for 60% to 80% of the total power consumption of the device. For example, a mainstream 10.1-inch LCD flat panel consumes approximately 5 to 8W of power. This is due to the transmissive display mode's reliance on a continuous light source. Especially in strong outdoor conditions, the need to further increase backlight brightness to combat ambient light interference leads to exponentially increasing power consumption, severely limiting the battery life of mobile devices.

[0003] 2. Physical bottlenecks in ambient light adaptability: In bright environments (e.g., light intensity exceeding 5,000 lux), transmissive LCD displays can experience glare due to ambient light reflected from the screen surface. Field measurements show that when ambient light intensity reaches 10,000 lux, the contrast ratio of traditional LCDs can plummet from 800:1 in indoor environments to below 50:1, increasing the human eye's error rate in character recognition by 37%. Furthermore, in dark environments, localized brightness non-uniformity in the backlight (typically ≥15%) can cause visual fatigue, and long-term use can lead to eye diseases such as macular degeneration.

[0004] 3. Potential photobiological safety risks: Transmissive LCD backlights generally utilize LED technology, with blue light flux in the 415-455nm band accounting for 15% to 20% of the spectrum. According to the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) standards, long-term exposure to light radiation in this wavelength band significantly increases the risk of photochemical damage to the retina. Clinical studies have shown that people who use LCD devices for more than four hours per day are 22% more likely to develop lens opacities within three years compared to a control group.

[0005] Although transflective LCDs have emerged, they still require a backlight, and the upper limit of brightness in reflective mode is limited by the transmittance of the liquid crystal layer (typically ≤30%), making it impossible to achieve a linear response to ambient light intensity. Furthermore, while new display technologies such as bistable liquid crystals offer low power consumption, they lack color expression (supporting only black, white, and grayscale), making them difficult to meet multimedia display requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application proposes a liquid crystal module, a display device and a control method thereof based on total reflection of natural ambient light, which can solve at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0007] The first embodiment of the present application provides a liquid crystal module based on total reflection of natural ambient light, comprising:

[0008] a first substrate;

[0009] a second substrate;

[0010] a liquid crystal layer, wherein the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer is adjustable so that the reflected ambient light forms images of different grayscales or colors;

[0011] a reflective layer, configured to reflect ambient light toward the liquid crystal layer;

[0012] The liquid crystal layer and the reflective layer are arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate. A polarizer is provided on the surface of the first substrate facing the display side, and a light-shielding layer is provided on the side of the second substrate facing away from the liquid crystal layer. The light-shielding layer can prevent ambient light from penetrating from the back of the second substrate and affecting the display effect.

[0013] It can be understood that the embodiment of the present application uses a shading layer to isolate the interference of stray light from the back, and combines the reflective layer and the liquid crystal layer to collaboratively modulate the ambient light to achieve energy-saving display without backlight; at the same time, the dual-substrate structure ensures the stable packaging of optical components and improves display uniformity.

[0014] Specifically, in the embodiments of the present application, a liquid crystal module based on total internal reflection of natural ambient light forms an image by reflecting natural ambient light. Its core principle is the "polarization modulation-reflective imaging" mechanism. Ambient light is converted into linearly polarized light by a polarizer and then incident on the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal molecules undergo an orientation change (twist angle range of 0-90°) under the action of an electric field, thereby changing the phase delay of the polarized light. The reflective layer reflects the modulated polarized light back to the liquid crystal layer, where it undergoes further polarization state modulation before exiting directly or through an upper polarizer to form a visible image. This process eliminates the need for a backlight and maximizes ambient light utilization through a dual polarization modulation mechanism, significantly reducing energy consumption. The continuous 0-90° deflection of the liquid crystal molecules enables precise control of grayscale and color, laying the foundation for high-quality reflective displays.

[0015] Secondly, the linear relationship between ambient light intensity and photon flux, combined with adaptive voltage regulation, enables smear-free display under high-dynamic lighting conditions, resolving the flickering issue of reflective screens under sudden changes in lighting conditions. The display effect is dynamically adjusted as ambient light intensity increases. When ambient light intensity rises, the photon flux reflected onto the display increases linearly, expanding the dynamic range of light intensity modulated by the liquid crystal layer. By monitoring ambient light intensity in real time, the control system automatically adjusts the drive voltage waveform, improving the response speed of the liquid crystal molecules. This ensures that the image refresh rate remains constant under high-dynamic lighting conditions (such as sudden changes in light intensity caused by clouds blocking sunlight), preventing smearing.

[0016] In addition, there is no blue light radiation from the backlight source, and the self-luminous backlight source is completely abandoned, eliminating harmful short-wave blue light from a physical level, reducing the risk of retinal photochemical damage, and meeting the eye protection display standards.

[0017] According to an embodiment provided in the present application, the reflective layer includes a high reflectivity material layer, and the high reflectivity material includes silver, aluminum, magnesium oxide and / or titanium dioxide.

[0018] It can be understood that in this embodiment, the high-reflectivity material efficiently converts electromagnetic waves in the visible spectrum of incident ambient light into reflected light through the mechanism of free electron oscillation (such as metals such as silver and aluminum) or multi-layer thin film interference (such as oxides such as magnesium oxide and titanium dioxide), thereby significantly reducing light absorption loss; at the same time, the atomic-level flatness of the material surface maintains the directional consistency of the reflected light path, avoids the diffusion of light energy caused by scattering, ensures that the reflected light is accurately reflected and penetrates the liquid crystal layer for secondary modulation, and ensures the maximum utilization of ambient light from a physical level.

[0019] According to an embodiment provided in the present application, an orientation layer is provided between the liquid crystal layer and the reflective layer, for arranging the liquid crystal molecules in a specific direction in an initial state, and the orientation layer forms a microscopic groove structure to guide the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, wherein the microscopic groove structure can be formed by friction treatment or the like.

[0020] It can be understood that in this embodiment, the microscopic groove structure constrains the end groups of the liquid crystal molecules through the interface anchoring effect, so that they are uniformly arranged along the groove direction in the absence of an electric field, thereby establishing a reference state for polarized light modulation; this pre-oriented structure eliminates the polarization scattering caused by the random arrangement of molecules, ensures that the polarization state of the reflected light is completely orthogonal to the polarizer at zero voltage, realizes a deep black state display, and provides a directional starting point for the coordinated deflection of molecules driven by an electric field, thereby ensuring the linearity of the grayscale response.

[0021] According to an embodiment provided by the present application, the present invention further includes:

[0022] pixel electrode;

[0023] A common electrode, wherein the pixel electrode and the common electrode are respectively provided on the first substrate and the second substrate, and the pixel electrode and the common electrode are respectively located on both sides of the liquid crystal layer;

[0024] The pixel electrode and the common electrode are adapted to change the arrangement state of the liquid crystal molecules after a voltage is applied thereto to adjust the polarization direction and intensity of the reflected light, thereby achieving display of different grayscales or colors.

[0025] As can be understood, in this embodiment, when a voltage is applied to the electrodes on both sides, a uniform electric field perpendicular to the liquid crystal layer is formed between the first and second substrates. This electric field forces the dielectric anisotropy of the liquid crystal molecules to undergo directional deflection, with the deflection angle varying continuously with the electric field intensity, thereby dynamically modulating the phase delay of light passing through the liquid crystal layer. This mechanism enables precise control of the polarization direction of reflected light, providing the physical basis for grayscale and color generation.

[0026] According to an embodiment provided in the present application, the pixel electrode includes a transparent conductive film electrode arranged in a matrix, and the transparent conductive film material includes indium tin oxide (ITO) and / or indium zinc oxide (IZO).

[0027] It can be understood that this embodiment can ensure the transparency of the optical path and optimize the display uniformity. The high light transmittance of the ITO / IZO film ensures that there is almost no light energy loss when the ambient light penetrates the electrode layer, ensuring that the intensity of the light incident on the liquid crystal layer is maximized, providing a sufficient light source foundation for reflective display; the uniform conductive properties of the ITO / IZO material, combined with the field strength compensation design at the edge of the matrix electrode, suppress the orientation distortion of the liquid crystal molecules at the pixel boundary, eliminating the display dark lines and crosstalk.

[0028] According to an embodiment provided in the present application, the polarizer includes an upper polarizer and a lower polarizer for polarizing ambient light, and the upper polarizer and the lower polarizer are respectively arranged on the side of the first substrate facing the display and the side facing the liquid crystal layer.

[0029] As you can understand, in this embodiment, based on the progressive polarization state modulation mechanism, the upper polarizer filters ambient light into linearly polarized light with a single polarization direction before entering the liquid crystal layer. The lower polarizer performs a secondary polarization filter on the light reflected by the reflective layer. This dual polarizer creates a stepped polarization state control chain, significantly improving the liquid crystal layer's precision in controlling light intensity.

[0030] Secondly, when the liquid crystal molecules are not subjected to an electric field, their orientation causes the polarization direction of the reflected light to be perpendicular to the transmission axis of the upper polarizer. At this time, the lower polarizer acts as a polarization state verification barrier, completely blocking the emission of unmodulated stray light and achieving a true black state display.

[0031] Furthermore, the electric field drives the liquid crystal molecules to rotate, causing the reflected light's polarization to be parallel to the transmission axis of the upper polarizer. The lower polarizer then synchronizes this polarization state, minimizing polarization loss during the light's return, and enhancing effective light output.

[0032] In addition, the combination of the upper and lower polarizers forms a closed polarization light path system, which suppresses non-polarized ambient stray light from penetrating the display structure and improves image visibility under strong outdoor light.

[0033] Based on the dual effects of polarization state and light intensity modulation, the change in the arrangement state of liquid crystal molecules directly affects the polarization characteristics of ambient light when it penetrates the liquid crystal layer:

[0034] In the zero voltage state, the liquid crystal molecules are constrained by the alignment layer to maintain their initial arrangement, so that the polarization direction of the reflected light is orthogonal to the transmission axis of the upper polarizer, and the light is completely blocked, achieving a deep black state;

[0035] When voltage is applied, the molecular deflection changes the polarization direction of the light, forming an angle with the transmission axis of the upper polarizer. The reflected light partially passes through the polarizer, forming a bright state. By adjusting the voltage value, the intensity of the transmitted light can be continuously controlled, achieving a smooth grayscale transition from full black to full bright.

[0036] Secondly, after passing through the liquid crystal layer, the ambient light is reflected by the reflective layer and modulated again by the molecular arrangement state during the second pass through the liquid crystal layer. The superposition effect of the two polarization modulations significantly enhances the light intensity response sensitivity, enabling high-contrast display effects even at low voltage driving.

[0037] Specifically, the matrix-arranged pixel electrodes independently control the deflection state of the liquid crystal molecules within each sub-unit, resulting in differential phase delay and polarization rotation of reflected light at different locations. Combined with color filters or field-sequential drive, the polarization modulation is converted into a ratio of the three primary colors, RGB, ultimately synthesizing a full-color image.

[0038] A second embodiment of the present application provides a display device, including a housing and a liquid crystal module based on total reflection of natural ambient light according to the first embodiment of the present application, wherein the total reflection liquid crystal panel is installed in the housing.

[0039] A third aspect of the present application provides a display device, and a method for controlling a display device provided in the second aspect of the present application is applied, including:

[0040] Detect ambient light intensity;

[0041] The display parameters of the total reflective liquid crystal panel are adjusted according to the ambient light intensity to optimize the display effect. The display parameters include the response speed, contrast and / or color saturation of the liquid crystal molecules.

[0042] It can be understood that in this embodiment, a light intensity-response speed synergistic mechanism is formed, the driving voltage slope is increased under strong ambient light, the process of overcoming the deflection inertia of the liquid crystal molecules is accelerated, the molecular orientation reaches the target state faster, and the dynamic image tailing is eliminated; the voltage change rate is reduced under weak light to avoid grayscale distortion caused by molecular overshoot.

[0043] Secondly, adaptive contrast balance is achieved. When the ambient light is high, the voltage difference between the pixel electrode and the common electrode is increased, the modulation depth of the liquid crystal layer to polarized light is enhanced, and the whitening effect of strong light reflection is offset; when the ambient light is low, the voltage difference is reduced to maintain the stability of the dark state molecular orientation and prevent contrast degradation.

[0044] In addition, based on the principle of color saturation compensation, as the ambient light increases, the driving voltage amplitude of the RGB sub-pixels is proportionally increased, the deflection angle range of the liquid crystal molecules is expanded, and the phase delay of the reflected light covers a wider color gamut space, compensating for the dilution effect of light on color purity.

[0045] The above parameters are adjusted in conjunction with the light intensity detection value to form a closed-loop negative feedback control, so that the display effect maintains visual consistency when the ambient light changes suddenly, avoiding the human eye from frequently adjusting the focus and pupil size.

[0046] According to an embodiment provided by the present application, the present invention further includes:

[0047] When the ambient light intensity is lower than a preset threshold, the auxiliary light source is triggered to light up to enhance the intensity of light incident on the total reflection liquid crystal panel. The light intensity of the auxiliary light source is suitable for dynamic adjustment according to the ambient light intensity to ensure the consistency of the display effect under different lighting conditions.

[0048] It can be understood that in this embodiment, the auxiliary light source is activated when the ambient light is insufficient, and dynamic fill light is provided through a brightness adjustment mechanism inversely proportional to the ambient light intensity, so that the photon flux incident on the liquid crystal layer remains constant; the fill light is evenly scattered by the light-guiding structure to form natural light-like characteristics, and its non-polarized state is compatible with the polarization modulation mechanism of the liquid crystal layer, ensuring that the polarization delay of the reflected light path does not deviate due to the switching of the light source; at the same time, the light intensity compensation closed-loop control ensures that the output image brightness and color saturation are not affected by the attenuation of ambient light, eliminating the adaptation lag of the human eye when transitioning from bright vision to intermediate vision, and achieving a consistent display experience all day long.

[0049] According to an embodiment provided by the present application, when there is no operation for more than 2 consecutive minutes and the ambient light is less than 10 lux, the electrode driving signal is turned off to enter the standby mode.

[0050] It can be understood that in this embodiment, when there is no operation and the ambient light is extremely weak, the electrode drive signal is turned off, so that the liquid crystal molecules are restored to their initial arrangement state under the action of the orientation layer, the polarization direction of the reflected light is completely blocked by the polarizer, and the screen enters a zero light output state; at the same time, the electrode voltage is returned to zero to eliminate the energy consumption of parasitic capacitance charging and discharging, and only the ambient light detection module is retained to operate at a micro-current, so that the system power consumption approaches the physical limit; when an operation signal is detected or the ambient light is enhanced, the drive circuit rebuilds the electric field in milliseconds, and the liquid crystal molecules respond instantaneously to restore the display, achieving an optimized balance between energy consumption and user experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a liquid crystal module based on total reflection of natural ambient light provided by the present invention;

[0052] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a liquid crystal module based on total reflection of natural ambient light provided by the present invention;

[0053] Figure 3 This is a second partial structural diagram of the liquid crystal module based on total reflection of natural ambient light provided by the present invention; 1. First substrate; 2. Polarizer; 21. Upper polarizer; 22. Lower polarizer; 3. Reflective layer; 4. Liquid crystal layer; 5. Second substrate; 6. Shading layer; 7. Orientation layer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application more clear, the technical solutions of this application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making any creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0055] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "first", "second", etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. In the description of this application, the meaning of "plurality" is at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise clearly and specifically limited. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but optionally also includes steps or units that are not listed, or optionally also includes other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0056] The present application proposes a liquid crystal module, a display device and a control method thereof based on total reflection of natural ambient light, which can solve at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0057] The first embodiment of the present application provides a liquid crystal module based on total reflection of natural ambient light, comprising:

[0058] a first substrate 1;

[0059] a second substrate 5;

[0060] a liquid crystal layer 4, wherein the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 4 is adjustable so that the reflected ambient light forms images of different grayscales or colors;

[0061] The reflective layer 3 is used to reflect ambient light toward the liquid crystal layer 4;

[0062] The liquid crystal layer 4 and the reflective layer 3 are arranged between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 5. The surface of the first substrate 1 facing the display side is provided with a polarizer 2, and the side of the second substrate 5 facing away from the liquid crystal layer 4 is provided with a shading layer 6. The shading layer 6 can prevent ambient light from penetrating from the back of the second substrate 5 and affecting the display effect.

[0063] It can be understood that the embodiment of the present application isolates the interference of stray light from the back through the shading layer 6, and combines the reflective layer 3 and the liquid crystal layer 4 to collaboratively modulate the ambient light to achieve energy-saving display without backlight; at the same time, the dual-substrate structure ensures the stable packaging of the optical components and improves the display uniformity.

[0064] Specifically, in the embodiments of the present application, a liquid crystal module based on total internal reflection of natural ambient light forms an image by reflecting natural ambient light. Its core principle is the "polarization modulation-reflective imaging" mechanism. Ambient light is converted into linearly polarized light by polarizer 2 and then incident on liquid crystal layer 4. The liquid crystal molecules undergo an orientation change (twist angle range of 0-90°) under the action of an electric field, thereby changing the phase retardation of the polarized light. Reflective layer 3 reflects the modulated polarized light back to liquid crystal layer 4. After further polarization state modulation, the light is emitted directly or through upper polarizer 21 to form a visible image. This process eliminates the need for a backlight and maximizes ambient light utilization through a dual polarization modulation mechanism, significantly reducing energy consumption. Continuous 0-90° deflection of the liquid crystal molecules enables precise grayscale and color control, laying the foundation for high-quality reflective displays.

[0065] Secondly, the linear relationship between ambient light intensity and photon flux, combined with adaptive voltage regulation, enables smear-free display under high-dynamic lighting conditions, solving the flicker problem of reflective screens under sudden changes in lighting conditions. The display effect is dynamically adjusted as ambient light intensity increases. As ambient light intensity increases, the photon flux reflected onto the display increases linearly, expanding the dynamic range of light intensity modulated by the liquid crystal layer 4. By real-time monitoring of ambient light intensity (using a silicon photodiode sensor with a response range of 0-20,000 lux and an accuracy of ±5%), the control system automatically adjusts the drive voltage waveform to improve the response speed of the liquid crystal molecules. This ensures that the image refresh rate remains constant even under high-dynamic lighting conditions (such as sudden changes in light intensity caused by clouds blocking sunlight), preventing smearing.

[0066] In addition, there is no blue light radiation from the backlight source, and the self-luminous backlight source is completely abandoned, eliminating harmful short-wave blue light from a physical level, reducing the risk of retinal photochemical damage, and meeting the eye protection display standards.

[0067] Specifically, in this embodiment, the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 5 are made of 0.5 mm thick high-transmittance glass (transmittance ≥ 92%) or CPI (transparent polyimide) flexible substrate (thickness 50 μm, bending radius ≥ 5 mm) to meet the requirements of rigid and flexible display. The two are arranged relative to each other and form a closed cavity structure for accommodating the liquid crystal layer 4 and other functional films.

[0068] The liquid crystal layer 4 uses positive dielectric anisotropic liquid crystal (Δε=12-15), with a threshold voltage of 2.5V, a saturation voltage of 4.5V, an operating temperature range of -20℃-80℃, and a cell thickness uniformity controlled within ±1%. It can be understood that the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 4 have anisotropic optical properties, and the long axis direction of the molecules can change under the action of the electric field, thereby affecting the propagation path and polarization state of the incident light.

[0069] The reflective layer 3 is made of magnetron sputtered silver film (thickness 200-300nm, reflectivity ≥95%), and the dielectric reflective layer 3 is made of / The multilayer film (15-20 layers, reflectivity ≥90%) is constructed with a light-shielding layer 6 made of carbon black polyimide (C-PI), offering a transmittance ≤0.1% and an electromagnetic shielding effectiveness ≥80dB. The reflective layer 3, a key component of the display, is made of highly reflective silver and treated with a special process to create a smooth, flat reflective surface. This effectively reflects ambient light entering the display back toward the liquid crystal layer 4. An alignment layer 7 is applied between the reflective layer 3 and the liquid crystal layer 4. A microscopic groove structure is formed through friction, providing initial orientation guidance for the liquid crystal molecules. This ensures a well-defined pretilt angle in the initial state, which provides the foundation for the orderly rotation of the liquid crystal molecules under the influence of an electric field.

[0070] According to an embodiment provided in the present application, the polarizer 2 includes an upper polarizer 21 and a lower polarizer 22 for polarizing ambient light, and the upper polarizer 21 and the lower polarizer 22 are respectively arranged on the side of the first substrate 1 facing the display and the side facing the liquid crystal layer 4.

[0071] The upper polarizer 21 and the lower polarizer 22 make the light entering the liquid crystal layer 4 into light with a specific polarization direction. The reflected light modulated by the liquid crystal layer 4 is emitted through the upper polarizer 21 to form a visible image.

[0072] The upper polarizer 21 and the lower polarizer 22 can make the light entering the liquid crystal layer 4 be light with a specific polarization direction. The reflected light modulated by the liquid crystal layer 4 is emitted through the upper polarizer 21 to form a visible image.

[0073] Specifically, the upper polarizer 21 and the lower polarizer 22 are orthogonal (angle 90°), the groove direction of the lower polarizer 22 is consistent with that of the orientation layer 7 (deviation ≤ 0.1°), and both the upper polarizer 21 and the lower polarizer 22 are provided with an anti-reflection coating, specifically a 1 / 4 wavelength anti-reflection film (reflectivity ≤ 0.5%) coated on the surface, and the wide viewing angle is extended to ±85°.

[0074] As can be understood, in this embodiment, based on the progressive polarization state modulation mechanism, the upper polarizer 21 filters ambient light into linearly polarized light with a single polarization direction for incident light into the liquid crystal layer 4; the lower polarizer 22 performs a secondary polarization filter on the light reflected by the reflective layer 3. The dual polarizers form a stepped polarization state control chain, significantly improving the precision of the liquid crystal layer 4's control over light intensity.

[0075] Secondly, when the liquid crystal molecules are not affected by the electric field, their orientation makes the polarization direction of the reflected light perpendicular to the transmission axis of the upper polarizer 21. At this time, the lower polarizer 22 acts as a polarization state verification barrier, completely blocking the emission of unmodulated stray light and achieving a true black state display.

[0076] In addition, after the electric field drives the liquid crystal molecules to deflect, the polarization direction of the reflected light is rotated to be parallel to the transmission axis of the upper polarizer 21. The lower polarizer 22 synchronously matches this polarization state, reducing the polarization loss during the light return process and enhancing the effective light output.

[0077] In addition, the upper polarizer 21 and the lower polarizer 22 form a closed polarization light path system, which suppresses non-polarized ambient stray light from penetrating the display structure and improves image visibility under strong outdoor light.

[0078] The placement of the polarizer 2 plays a crucial role in light processing. Ambient light first passes through the lower polarizer 22, where it is polarized into linear polarization in a specific direction (e.g., vertical). The light then enters the liquid crystal layer 4. In the liquid crystal layer 4, the polarization direction of the light changes accordingly based on the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules. The light is then reflected back, modulated by the liquid crystal layer 4. When it passes through the upper polarizer 21 again, only light with a specific polarization direction (aligned with the transmission axis of the upper polarizer 21) is allowed to pass through, ultimately forming a visible image displayed on the screen.

[0079] The light-shielding layer 6 is coated on the back of the second substrate 5 and is made of black or dark-colored opaque material. It can effectively block external ambient light from penetrating from the direction of the second substrate 5 into the interior of the display screen, avoid stray light from interfering with the light modulation process in the liquid crystal layer 4, and improve the contrast and image quality of the display screen.

[0080] According to an embodiment provided in the present application, the reflective layer 3 includes a high reflectivity material layer, and the high reflectivity material includes silver, aluminum, magnesium oxide and / or titanium dioxide.

[0081] It can be understood that in this embodiment, the high-reflectivity material efficiently converts electromagnetic waves in the visible spectrum of the incident ambient light into reflected light through the mechanism of free electron oscillation (such as metals such as silver and aluminum) or multi-layer thin film interference (such as oxides such as magnesium oxide and titanium dioxide), thereby significantly reducing light absorption loss; at the same time, the atomic-level flatness of the material surface maintains the directional consistency of the reflected light path, avoids the diffusion of light energy caused by scattering, ensures that the reflected light is accurately reflected and penetrates the liquid crystal layer 4 for secondary modulation, and ensures the maximum utilization of ambient light from a physical level.

[0082] Specifically, the surface of the reflective layer 3 uses a nano-scale diffuse reflection coating (roughness Ra = 0.2-0.5μm), which makes the reflection of ambient light conform to Lambert's cosine law. The surface glossiness is ≤5GU (traditional LCD glossiness ≥80GU), which is equivalent to the visual experience of paper print. The eye movement frequency during reading is reduced by 18% and the increase in intraocular pressure is reduced by 25%.

[0083] By adjusting the deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecules in real time through control methods, the screen surface brightness maintains a 1:1.2 ratio with the ambient light intensity (for example, when the ambient light is 1000 lux, the screen brightness is 1200 lux), thus avoiding pupil zoom fatigue caused by sudden changes in brightness.

[0084] According to an embodiment provided by the present application, an orientation layer 7 is provided between the liquid crystal layer 4 and the reflective layer 3, for arranging the liquid crystal molecules in a specific direction in the initial state. The orientation layer 7 forms a microscopic groove structure to guide the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, wherein the microscopic groove structure can be formed by friction treatment or the like. More specifically, the microscopic groove is formed by friction treatment of a polyimide (PI) orientation agent, and the density strips / cm, pretilt angle 1°-3°.

[0085] It can be understood that in this embodiment, the microscopic groove structure constrains the end groups of the liquid crystal molecules through the interface anchoring effect, so that they are uniformly arranged along the groove direction when there is no electric field, establishing a reference state for polarized light modulation; this pre-oriented structure eliminates the polarization scattering caused by the random arrangement of molecules, ensures that the polarization state of the reflected light is completely orthogonal to the polarizer 2 at zero voltage, realizes deep black state display, and provides a directional starting point for the coordinated deflection of molecules driven by the electric field, ensuring the linearity of the grayscale response.

[0086] According to an embodiment provided by the present application, the present invention further includes:

[0087] pixel electrode;

[0088] Common electrode: the pixel electrode and the common electrode are respectively provided on the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 5 , and the pixel electrode and the common electrode are respectively located on both sides of the liquid crystal layer 4 ;

[0089] The pixel electrode and the common electrode are adapted to change the arrangement state of the liquid crystal molecules after a voltage is applied thereto to adjust the polarization direction and intensity of the reflected light, thereby achieving display of different grayscales or colors.

[0090] Specifically, the pixel electrodes, made of ITO transparent conductive film material, are arranged in a matrix on a first substrate 1, with each pixel electrode corresponding to a pixel unit. A common electrode is provided on a second substrate 5, facing the pixel electrodes and forming an electric field across the liquid crystal layer 4. When a voltage is applied between the pixel and common electrodes, the liquid crystal molecules twist under the action of the electric field, changing the position of their long axes relative to the polarization direction of the incident light. This in turn modulates the polarization state and intensity of the reflected light, causing different pixels to reflect different degrees of light, resulting in grayscale or color differences that combine to form a complete image.

[0091] It will be appreciated that in this embodiment, when voltage is applied to the electrodes on both sides, a uniform electric field perpendicular to the liquid crystal layer 4 is formed between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 5. This electric field forces the liquid crystal molecules, which exhibit dielectric anisotropy, to undergo directional deflection, with the deflection angle varying continuously with the electric field intensity, thereby dynamically modulating the phase delay of light passing through the liquid crystal layer 4. This mechanism enables precise control of the polarization direction of reflected light, providing the physical basis for grayscale and color generation.

[0092] Based on the dual effects of polarization state and light intensity modulation, the change in the arrangement state of liquid crystal molecules directly affects the polarization characteristics of ambient light when it penetrates the liquid crystal layer 4:

[0093] In the zero voltage state, the liquid crystal molecules are constrained by the alignment layer 7 to maintain their initial arrangement, so that the polarization direction of the reflected light is orthogonal to the transmission axis of the upper polarizer 21, and the light is completely blocked, achieving a deep black state;

[0094] When voltage is applied, molecular deflection changes the polarization direction of the light, forming an angle with the transmission axis of the upper polarizer 21. The reflected light partially passes through the polarizer 2, forming a bright state. By adjusting the voltage value, the intensity of the transmitted light can be continuously controlled, achieving a smooth grayscale transition from full black to full bright.

[0095] Secondly, after passing through the liquid crystal layer 4, the ambient light is reflected by the reflective layer 3 and is again modulated by the molecular arrangement state during its second pass through the liquid crystal layer 4. The superposition effect of the two polarization modulations significantly enhances the light intensity response sensitivity, enabling high-contrast display effects even at low voltage driving.

[0096] Specifically, the matrix-arranged pixel electrodes independently control the deflection state of the liquid crystal molecules within each sub-unit, resulting in differential phase delay and polarization rotation of reflected light at different locations. Combined with color filters or field-sequential drive, the polarization modulation is converted into a ratio of the three primary colors, RGB, ultimately synthesizing a full-color image.

[0097] According to an embodiment provided in the present application, the pixel electrode includes a transparent conductive film electrode arranged in a matrix, and the transparent conductive film material includes indium tin oxide (ITO) and / or indium zinc oxide (IZO). Specifically, in this embodiment, the ITO / IZO transparent conductive film (aperture ratio ≥85%, sheet resistance ≤10Ω / □) supports QHD resolution.

[0098] It can be understood that this embodiment can ensure the transparency of the light path and optimize the display uniformity. The high light transmittance of the ITO / IZO film ensures that there is almost no light energy loss when the ambient light penetrates the electrode layer, ensuring that the intensity of the light incident on the liquid crystal layer 4 is maximized, providing a sufficient light source basis for reflective display; the uniform conductive properties of the ITO / IZO material, combined with the field strength compensation design at the edge of the matrix electrode, suppress the orientation distortion of the liquid crystal molecules at the pixel boundary, eliminating the display dark lines and crosstalk.

[0099] A second aspect of the present application provides a display device, comprising the liquid crystal module based on total reflection of natural ambient light provided in the first aspect of the present application, wherein the total reflection liquid crystal panel is installed in the housing. Specifically, the housing is used to protect the total reflection liquid crystal panel and form a structure that is convenient for handheld or fixed use. The housing is made of a lightweight and sturdy plastic material, and the surface is suitable for handheld operation by the user. The housing is also equipped with functional components such as a battery compartment, buttons, and a USB interface.

[0100] Inside the display device, in addition to the fully reflective LCD panel, core components such as an ambient light sensor, a control circuit board, a storage module, and a power management module are integrated. The ambient light sensor, mounted on the front of the device near the display, monitors ambient light intensity in real time and transmits detection signals to the control circuit board.

[0101] The control circuit board is equipped with key chips such as a microprocessor and a display driver chip. Based on the light intensity information fed back by the ambient light sensor, it runs a preset control algorithm and sends corresponding drive signals to the electrode system of the fully reflective liquid crystal panel to adjust the response speed, contrast, color saturation and other display parameters of the liquid crystal molecules to adapt to different ambient light conditions and ensure the optimal presentation of the display effect.

[0102] The storage module stores data such as e-book content, system software, and user settings. Working in conjunction with the display driver chip, it rapidly transmits e-book pages and other image data to the fully reflective LCD panel for display. The power management module manages battery charging and discharging, rationally allocating power to ensure stable power supply under various operating conditions and extend battery life. This leverages the low power consumption of the fully reflective LCD panel, extending the e-book reader's battery life and satisfying users' needs for extended reading time.

[0103] A third embodiment of the present application provides a display device, and a control method for the display device provided in the second embodiment of the present application is applied, including:

[0104] Detecting ambient light intensity. Specifically, upon powering on the device, the ambient light sensor immediately begins operating, continuously monitoring the ambient light intensity and sending this data to the control circuit board at a preset interval (e.g., once per second). For example, in an indoor office environment, the ambient light intensity may be between 300 and 500 lux; while in a sunny outdoor environment, the light intensity may reach over 10,000 lux.

[0105] The display parameters of the fully reflective liquid crystal panel are adjusted based on the ambient light intensity to optimize the display effect. These display parameters include the response speed of the liquid crystal molecules, contrast, and / or color saturation. Specifically, after receiving the ambient light intensity data, the control circuit board compares it with multiple preset ambient light intensity thresholds. The control circuit board then determines the display parameters to be adjusted and the adjustment range based on the type of content currently being displayed (e.g., text, images, etc.) and the user's historical display preferences. For example, when the ambient light intensity increases from 500 lux to 1000 lux, the pre-established parameter mapping relationship determines that the response speed of the liquid crystal molecules will be increased by 20%, the contrast by 15%, and the color saturation by 10% to better utilize the increased ambient light and enhance the display effect.

[0106] It can be understood that in this embodiment, a light intensity-response speed synergistic mechanism is formed, the driving voltage slope is increased under strong ambient light, the process of overcoming the deflection inertia of the liquid crystal molecules is accelerated, the molecular orientation reaches the target state faster, and the dynamic image tailing is eliminated; the voltage change rate is reduced under weak light to avoid grayscale distortion caused by molecular overshoot.

[0107] Secondly, adaptive contrast balance is achieved. When the ambient light is high, the voltage difference between the pixel electrode and the common electrode is increased, the modulation depth of the liquid crystal layer 4 on polarized light is enhanced, and the whitening effect of strong light reflection is offset; when the ambient light is low, the voltage difference is reduced to maintain the stability of the dark state molecular orientation and prevent contrast degradation.

[0108] In addition, based on the principle of color saturation compensation, as the ambient light increases, the driving voltage amplitude of the RGB sub-pixels is proportionally increased, the deflection angle range of the liquid crystal molecules is expanded, and the phase delay of the reflected light covers a wider color gamut space, compensating for the dilution effect of light on color purity.

[0109] The above parameters are adjusted in conjunction with the light intensity detection value to form a closed-loop negative feedback control, so that the display effect maintains visual consistency when the ambient light changes suddenly, avoiding the human eye from frequently adjusting the focus and pupil size.

[0110] In a preferred embodiment, it also includes:

[0111] Display parameters are dynamically adjusted. The control circuit board sends a control signal containing adjustment instructions to the display driver chip. The display driver chip adjusts the voltage waveform and amplitude applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode according to the instructions, thereby regulating the response speed of the liquid crystal molecules. Simultaneously, by optimizing the display's gamma correction curve and other image processing algorithms, contrast and color saturation parameters are dynamically adjusted to ensure that the displayed image presents optimal visual effects under various ambient lighting conditions. For example, in strong ambient light, the adjusted contrast and color saturation parameters can make text edges sharper and image colors more vivid and lifelike, enhancing the user's reading and viewing experience.

[0112] The auxiliary light source assists with display detection and control. When ambient light intensity falls below a preset minimum display threshold (e.g., 50 lux), potentially affecting the clarity of text displayed on the fully reflective LCD panel, the control circuit board activates the auxiliary light source. This auxiliary light source utilizes a low-power white LED, mounted inside the device near the display. Its light evenly illuminates the fully reflective LCD panel. Furthermore, the auxiliary light source's intensity dynamically adjusts based on the current ambient light intensity. For example, when the ambient light intensity is 30 lux, the auxiliary light source operates at 70% brightness. When the ambient light intensity drops further to 10 lux, the auxiliary light source's brightness increases to 90%, ensuring that the fully reflective LCD panel still provides a bright and clear display even in dim conditions, meeting the user's basic reading needs. Furthermore, when the ambient light intensity rises above the minimum display threshold (e.g., 100 lux), the auxiliary light source automatically turns off, conserving power and extending device battery life.

[0113] Display color correction and personalized adjustment: The device provides a user-accessible display settings interface, where users can select different color modes, such as eye protection mode, vivid mode, black and white mode, etc., based on their own visual experience and preferences. The control circuit board calls the corresponding color correction algorithm based on the color mode selected by the user to process the color data of the displayed image in real time. For example, in eye protection mode, the blue light component of the displayed image is reduced, and the proportion of yellow light and red light is increased, making the displayed color warmer and reducing eye stimulation; in vivid mode, the color saturation and contrast are increased to make the image colors more vivid and realistic. In addition, for some professional image design software or e-book reading applications, users can also make fine adjustments to color temperature, hue, saturation, etc. by manually adjusting color parameters to meet specific professional needs or personal preferences.

[0114] According to an embodiment provided by the present application, the present invention further includes:

[0115] When the ambient light intensity is lower than a preset threshold, the auxiliary light source is triggered to light up to enhance the intensity of light incident on the total reflection liquid crystal panel. The light intensity of the auxiliary light source is suitable for dynamic adjustment according to the ambient light intensity to ensure the consistency of the display effect under different lighting conditions.

[0116] It can be understood that in this embodiment, the auxiliary light source is activated when the ambient light is insufficient, and dynamic fill light is provided through a brightness adjustment mechanism inversely proportional to the ambient light intensity, so that the photon flux incident on the liquid crystal layer 4 is maintained constant; the fill light is evenly scattered by the light-guiding structure to form natural light-like characteristics, and its non-polarized state is compatible with the polarization modulation mechanism of the liquid crystal layer 4, ensuring that the polarization delay of the reflected light path does not deviate due to the switching of the light source; at the same time, the light intensity compensation closed-loop control ensures that the output image brightness and color saturation are not affected by the attenuation of ambient light, eliminating the adaptation lag of the human eye when transitioning from bright vision to intermediate vision, and achieving a consistent display experience all day long.

[0117] According to an embodiment provided by the present application, when there is no operation for more than 2 consecutive minutes and the ambient light is less than 10 lux, the electrode driving signal is turned off to enter the standby mode.

[0118] It can be understood that in this embodiment, when there is no operation and the ambient light is extremely weak, the electrode drive signal is turned off, so that the liquid crystal molecules are restored to their initial arrangement state under the action of the orientation layer 7, the polarization direction of the reflected light is completely blocked by the polarizer 2, and the screen enters a zero light output state; at the same time, the electrode voltage is returned to zero to eliminate the energy consumption of parasitic capacitance charging and discharging, and only the ambient light detection module is retained to operate at a micro-current, so that the system power consumption approaches the physical limit; when an operation signal is detected or the ambient light is enhanced, the drive circuit rebuilds the electric field in milliseconds, and the liquid crystal molecules respond instantaneously to restore the display, achieving an optimized balance between energy consumption and user experience.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal module based on total reflection of natural ambient light, characterized in that: include: a first substrate; a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer, wherein the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer is adjustable so that the reflected ambient light forms images of different grayscales or colors; a reflective layer, configured to reflect ambient light toward the liquid crystal layer; The liquid crystal layer and the reflective layer are arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate. A polarizer is provided on the surface of the first substrate facing the display side, and a light shielding layer is provided on the side of the second substrate facing away from the liquid crystal layer.

2. The liquid crystal module based on total reflection of natural ambient light according to claim 1, characterized in that: The reflective layer includes a high reflectivity material layer, and the high reflectivity material includes silver, aluminum, magnesium oxide and / or titanium dioxide.

3. The liquid crystal module based on total reflection of natural ambient light according to claim 1, characterized in that: An alignment layer is provided between the liquid crystal layer and the reflective layer, for arranging the liquid crystal molecules in a specific direction in an initial state. The alignment layer forms a microscopic groove structure to guide the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules.

4. The liquid crystal module based on total reflection of natural ambient light according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: pixel electrode; A common electrode, wherein the pixel electrode and the common electrode are respectively provided on the first substrate and the second substrate, and the pixel electrode and the common electrode are respectively located on both sides of the liquid crystal layer; The pixel electrode and the common electrode are adapted to change the arrangement state of the liquid crystal molecules to adjust the polarization direction and intensity of the reflected light after a voltage is applied thereto.

5. The liquid crystal module based on total reflection of natural ambient light according to claim 4, characterized in that: The pixel electrodes include transparent conductive film electrodes arranged in a matrix, and the transparent conductive film material includes indium tin oxide (ITO) and / or indium zinc oxide (IZO).

6. The liquid crystal module based on total reflection of natural ambient light according to claim 1, characterized in that: The polarizer includes an upper polarizer and a lower polarizer for polarizing ambient light. The upper polarizer and the lower polarizer are respectively arranged on a side of the first substrate facing the display and a side facing the liquid crystal layer.

7. A display device, characterized in that: It comprises a housing and a liquid crystal module based on total reflection of natural ambient light according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the total reflection liquid crystal flat panel is installed in the housing.

8. A method for controlling a display device, characterized in that: include: Detect ambient light intensity; The display parameters of the total reflective liquid crystal panel are adjusted according to the ambient light intensity to optimize the display effect. The display parameters include the response speed, contrast and / or color saturation of the liquid crystal molecules.

9. The control method of the display device according to claim 8, characterized in that: Also includes: When the ambient light intensity is lower than a preset threshold, the auxiliary light source is triggered to light up, so as to enhance the intensity of light incident on the total reflection liquid crystal panel.

10. The control method of the display device according to claim 9, characterized in that: If there is no operation for more than 2 minutes and the ambient light is less than 10 lux, the electrode drive signal is turned off to enter standby mode.

Citation Information

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