Transparent display

Abstract

A transparent display including a plurality of pixels is provided. Each of the pixels includes a first substrate, a plurality of light-emitting elements, an optical layer and an optical modulation layer. The light-emitting elements are disposed on the first substrate and located in an active luminous area of ​​the pixel. The optical layer directly covers the light-emitting elements, and the refractive index of the optical layer is greater than

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a display, and more particularly to a transparent display. Prior Technology

[0002] Many 3D displays on the market aim to attract consumers with their multi-depth-of-field features. For a better immersive experience, transparent 3D LCD displays are a good option. However, existing transparent 3D LCD displays have too low transmittance, resulting in insufficient integration with the environment. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides a transparent display that can switch between 3D transparent display and 2D transparent display, and has high transparency.

[0004] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a transparent display is provided, comprising a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a first substrate, a plurality of light-emitting elements, an optical layer, and an optical modulation layer. The light-emitting elements are disposed on the first substrate and located within the active light-emitting region of the pixel. The optical layer directly covers the light-emitting elements, and the refractive index of the optical layer is greater than 1. The optical modulation layer is disposed on the optical layer.

[0005] Based on the above, the transparent display provided in this embodiment of the invention directly covers the light-emitting element with an optical layer, thereby improving light extraction efficiency. Furthermore, by utilizing an optical modulation layer, the transparent display can be implemented as both a 3D transparent display and a 2D transparent display.

[0006] To make the above features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings for detailed explanation. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0007] Figure 1 shows a plan view of a transparent display according to some embodiments of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view along line AA' of Figure 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a transparent display according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a transparent display according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Implementation

[0008] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, wherein Figure 1 shows a plan view of a transparent display according to some embodiments of the present invention, and Figure 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view along line AA' of Figure 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] The transparent display 1 according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of pixels PX. Each pixel PX includes a substrate 10, a substrate 20, light-emitting elements L1, L2, L3, an optical layer 101, and an optical modulation layer 102. The light-emitting elements L1, L2, L3 are disposed within the active light-emitting area PA of the pixel PX. Each pixel PX also has a transparent area TA where no light-emitting elements are disposed. In some embodiments, the light-emitting elements L1, L2, L3 may include a red micro-light-emitting diode, a green micro-light-emitting diode, and a blue micro-light-emitting diode, but are not limited thereto.

[0010] The optical layer 101 has a refractive index greater than 1 and directly covers the light-emitting elements L1, L2, and L3. Light emitted by the light-emitting elements L1, L2, and L3 can directly enter the optical layer 101. An optical modulation layer 102 is disposed on the optical layer 101 and is used to modulate the light emitted by the light-emitting elements L1, L2, and L3. The modulation mentioned above refers, for example, phase modulation, thereby changing the image of the transparent display 1. In some embodiments, the optical layer 101 may include, for example, polyester film, polyimide, fluorinated polymer, epoxy resin, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

[0011] Specifically, in some embodiments, the optical modulation layer 102 may include a liquid crystal layer and a transparent electrode layer TE, wherein the liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules LC. By applying a voltage to the liquid crystal molecules LC through the transparent electrode layer TE, the long axis direction of each liquid crystal molecule LC can be controlled to achieve the modulation function. Therefore, depending on the applied voltage, the transparent display 1 can be implemented as a 3D transparent display and a 2D transparent display, switching between the two to generate 3D images or display 2D images.

[0012] In the structure shown in Figure 2, to improve the brightness of the transparent display 1 from the positive viewing angle, the top surface TS1 of the optical layer 101 at the active light-emitting region PA can be configured as a convex surface (i.e., curved surface), which provides a refractive function. With this configuration, the optical path of light from the light-emitting elements L1, L2, and L3 traveling in different directions may differ within the optical layer 101. This optical path difference can be compensated by configuring a specific electric field in the liquid crystal layer.

[0013] It should be noted that, compared to the prior art where the optical layer 101 is disposed in a module above the light-emitting elements L1, L2, and L3, the optical layer 101 of this first embodiment is configured to directly cover the light-emitting elements L1, L2, and L3. Accordingly, the light emitted by the light-emitting elements L1, L2, and L3 can directly enter the optical layer 101, avoiding reflection of light at one or more boundary surfaces of the module and improving light extraction efficiency. Similarly, the optical modulation layer 102 directly contacts the optical layer 101, and light penetrating the optical layer 101 can directly enter the optical modulation layer 102.

[0014] In some embodiments, the refractive index of the optical layer 101 is configured to be greater than that of the optical modulation layer 102, and the refractive index of the optical modulation layer 102 is greater than 1 (but not limited thereto). Accordingly, light from the light-emitting elements L1, L2, L3 can sequentially pass through the optical layer 101, the optical modulation layer 102, and the air layer above the substrate 20, where the refractive index of the air layer is approximately 1. This avoids total internal reflection at the interface of the different media.

[0015] In the first embodiment shown in Figure 2, the area ratio of the transparent area TA to the active light-emitting area PA of each pixel PX is greater than or equal to 1.5. In other words, the active light-emitting area PA of each pixel PX has a first area, and the transparent area TA of each pixel PX has a second area, wherein the ratio of the second area to the sum of the first area and the second area is greater than or equal to 60%. This allows the transparent display 1 to have high transparency.

[0016] In this first embodiment, the optical layer 101 of each pixel PX is disposed within the active light-emitting region PA and within the transparent region TA. To improve the transparency of the transparent display 1, the thickness of the optical layer 101 within the transparent region TA can be less than the thickness of the optical layer 101 within the active light-emitting region PA. Furthermore, since the optical layer 101 within the transparent region TA does not need to provide a refractive function, the top surface TS2 of the optical layer 101 within the transparent region TA can be a plane (as shown in FIG. 2), thereby reducing the manufacturing difficulty of the transparent display 1, but is not limited thereto.

[0017] To fully illustrate the various embodiments of the present invention, other embodiments will be described below. It must be noted that the following embodiments use the same element reference numerals and some content as those in the foregoing embodiments, with the same reference numerals representing the same or similar elements, and descriptions of identical technical content omitted. For explanations of the omitted parts, please refer to the foregoing embodiments; these will not be repeated in the following embodiments.

[0018] Referring to FIG3, a partial cross-sectional view of a transparent display according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0019] The main difference between the transparent display 2 of the second embodiment of the present invention and the transparent display 1 of the first embodiment is that the optical layer 101 has a planar top surface TS1 of the active light-emitting region PA and a planar top surface TS2 of the transparent region TA, and the two top surfaces TS1 and TS2 are coplanar, thereby reducing the manufacturing difficulty of the transparent display 2. Furthermore, as shown in FIG3, the plurality of transparent electrodes of the transparent electrode layer TE can have different widths. In an embodiment not shown, the plurality of transparent electrodes of the transparent electrode layer TE can have the same width, but the distance between any two adjacent transparent electrodes can be different.

[0020] Referring to FIG4, a partial cross-sectional view of a transparent display according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0021] The main difference between the transparent display 3 of the third embodiment of the present invention and the transparent display 1 of the first embodiment is that the optical layer 101 of each pixel PX is disposed within the active light-emitting region PA, but not within the transparent region TA. That is, the substrate 10 is exposed by the optical layer 101 within the transparent region TA, and the vertical projection area of ​​the optical layer 101 within the transparent region TA is 0. Accordingly, the transparency of the transparent display 3 can be improved.

[0022] Each pixel PX of the transparent display 3 also includes a first barrier structure 101W and a second barrier structure 102W. The first barrier structure 101W is disposed on the substrate 10 and completely surrounds the optical layer 101 that covers the light-emitting elements L1, L2, and L3.

[0023] The second barrier structure 102W is disposed on the substrate 20, completely surrounding the transparent electrode layer TE corresponding to the optical layer 101, and corresponding to the first barrier structure 101W, thereby reducing stray light scattering.

[0024] In summary, the transparent display provided by the embodiments of the present invention directly coats the light-emitting element with an optical layer, thereby improving light extraction efficiency. Furthermore, by utilizing an optical modulation layer, the transparent display can be implemented as both a 3D and a 2D transparent display.

[0025] 1, 2, 3: Transparent displays 10:Substrate 20:Substrate 101: Optical layer 101W: First retaining wall structure 102: Optical modulation layer 102W: Second retaining wall structure L1, L2, L3: Light-emitting elements LC: Liquid crystal molecules PA: Active light-emitting area PX: pixel TA: Transparent Area TE: Transparent electrode layer TS1, TS2: Top surface

Claims

1. A transparent display comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising: First substrate; Multiple light-emitting elements are disposed on the first substrate and located within an active light-emitting area of ​​the pixel; An optical layer directly covers the plurality of light-emitting elements, and the refractive index of the optical layer is greater than 1; and an optical modulation layer is disposed on the optical layer, wherein the transparent display is used to generate 2D images and 3D images.

2. The transparent display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the area ratio of a transparent area of ​​each pixel to the area of ​​the active light-emitting area is greater than or equal to 1.

5.

3. The transparent display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active light-emitting area of ​​each pixel has a first area, and a transparent area of ​​each pixel has a second area, wherein the ratio of the second area to the sum of the first area and the second area is greater than or equal to 60%.

4. The transparent display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical modulation layer is in direct contact with the optical layer.

5. The transparent display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the refractive index of the optical layer is greater than the refractive index of the optical modulation layer, and the refractive index of the optical modulation layer is greater than 1.

6. The transparent display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical modulation layer comprises a liquid crystal layer and a transparent electrode layer, and the liquid crystal layer is located between the optical layer and the transparent electrode layer.

7. The transparent display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical layer is planar on one top surface of the active light-emitting region.

8. The transparent display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first substrate is exposed by the optical layer within a transparent area of ​​the pixel.

9. The transparent display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical layer of each of the pixels is further disposed within a transparent region adjacent to the active light-emitting region.

10. The transparent display as claimed in claim 9, wherein the optical layer of each pixel has a first thickness in the active light-emitting region and a second thickness in the transparent region, and the first thickness is not equal to the second thickness.

11. The transparent display as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second thickness is less than the first thickness.

12. The transparent display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical layer of each pixel is further disposed in a transparent region adjacent to the active light-emitting region, the optical layer having a first top surface in the active light-emitting region and a second top surface in the transparent region, the first top surface being curved and the second top surface being planar.

13. The transparent display as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the pixels further includes a first barrier structure disposed on the first substrate and completely surrounding the optical layer covering the plurality of light-emitting elements.

14. The transparent display as claimed in claim 13, wherein each pixel further includes a second substrate and a second barrier structure, wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements, the optical layer and the optical modulation layer are located between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the second barrier structure is disposed on the second substrate and corresponds to the first barrier structure.

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