Privacy film, display panel, and display device

Abstract

The present invention discloses an anti-peep film, a display panel, and a display device. The display panel includes a panel body, a first polarizer, a dimming liquid crystal layer, and a second polarizer; the first polarizer is arranged on one side of the panel body; the dimming liquid crystal layer is arranged on the side of the first polarizer away from the panel body, and the dimming liquid crystal layer includes a polymer network and liquid crystal molecules distributed in the polymer network, wherein the polymer network is arranged along a first direction, and the first direction is inclined relative to the normal of the first polarizer; the second polarizer is arranged on the side of the dimming liquid crystal layer away from the first polarizer, and the optical axis direction of the first polarizer is parallel to the optical axis direction of the second polarizer. The present invention can selectively transmit light at different viewing angles, thereby playing a role in anti-peeping at specific viewing angles, and the display panel provided by the present invention can also switch between anti-peeping display and conventional display to improve the applicability of the display panel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of display technology, and in particular to an anti-peep film, a display panel, and a display device having the display panel. Background Art

[0002] In the rapidly developing information age, people are increasingly concerned about protecting their personal information. Consequently, a new type of monitor with anti-peeping functionality has emerged. These monitors only allow the display to be readable to users facing straight ahead, while obscuring the display to bystanders at the side, effectively protecting user privacy.

[0003] Currently, most anti-peeping components are a layer of anti-peeping protective film, but this anti-peeping protective film cannot automatically switch between anti-peeping and normal display. Another type of display technology with anti-peeping and switching functions is to design the display itself, such as a special pattern design of the electrode layer on the substrate. However, this type of display usually affects the display effect, such as reduced contrast, color deviation, poor resolution, etc. Therefore, the existing anti-peeping technology is still not perfect in terms of the adjustable viewing angle range. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Embodiments of the present invention provide an anti-peeping film, a display panel, and a display device that can selectively transmit light at different viewing angles, thereby providing anti-peeping protection at specific viewing angles. Furthermore, the display panel provided by the present invention can also switch between anti-peeping display and conventional display to improve the applicability of the display panel.

[0005] An embodiment of the present invention provides a display panel, comprising:

[0006] Panel body;

[0007] a first polarizer, disposed on one side of the panel body;

[0008] a dimming liquid crystal layer, disposed on a side of the first polarizer away from the panel body, the dimming liquid crystal layer comprising a polymer network and liquid crystal molecules distributed in the polymer network, wherein the polymer network is arranged along a first direction, and the first direction is inclined relative to a normal line of the first polarizer; and

[0009] a second polarizer, disposed on a side of the dimming liquid crystal layer away from the first polarizer, and an optical axis direction of the first polarizer is parallel to an optical axis direction of the second polarizer;

[0010] Wherein, in the first mode, the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules are arranged along the first direction;

[0011] In the second mode, the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules are arranged along a second direction, which is different from the first direction, and the viewing angle of the display panel in the first mode is smaller than that in the second mode.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, when the display panel is in the first mode, the orthographic projection of the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules on the first polarizer is parallel to the optical axis of the first polarizer.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the angle between the first direction and the normal line of the first polarizer is an acute angle.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the angle between the first direction and the normal of the first polarizer is greater than or equal to 1° and less than or equal to 89°.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the angle between the first direction and the normal of the first polarizer is greater than or equal to 55° and less than or equal to 89°.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, a first electrode layer is arranged between the first polarizer and the dimming liquid crystal layer, and a second electrode layer is arranged between the second polarizer and the dimming liquid crystal layer, wherein the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer are used to load voltage to control the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules to switch between the first direction and the second direction.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, a first alignment layer is arranged between the first electrode layer and the dimming liquid crystal layer, and a second alignment layer is arranged between the second electrode layer and the dimming liquid crystal layer, and the pre-tilt direction of the first alignment layer and the pre-tilt direction of the second alignment layer are both parallel to the first direction.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the liquid crystal molecules are positive liquid crystals, and the second direction is parallel to the normal direction of the first polarizer; or

[0019] The liquid crystal molecules are negative liquid crystals, and the second direction is perpendicular to the normal direction of the first polarizer.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the display panel further includes a third polarizer disposed on a side of the panel body away from the first polarizer, and an optical axis direction of the third polarizer is perpendicular to an optical axis direction of the first polarizer.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, the display panel also includes a phase compensation module arranged between the first polarizer and the dimming liquid crystal layer, and the phase compensation module includes a positive uniaxial C-type compensation film, or a negative uniaxial C-type compensation film, or at least one A-type compensation film.

[0022] In one embodiment of the present invention, the phase compensation module includes a stacked first A-type compensation film and a second A-type compensation film, and the optical axis direction of the first A-type compensation film is orthogonal to the optical axis direction of the second A-type compensation film.

[0023] According to the above-mentioned objective of the present invention, a display device is provided. The display device includes the display panel and a backlight module located on one side of the display panel.

[0024] In one embodiment of the present invention, the backlight module includes a collimated backlight source.

[0025] According to the above-mentioned purpose of the present invention, there is provided a privacy film, comprising:

[0026] First polarizer;

[0027] a dimming liquid crystal layer disposed on one side of the first polarizer, the dimming liquid crystal layer comprising a polymer network and liquid crystal molecules distributed in the polymer network, wherein the polymer network is arranged along a first direction, and the first direction is inclined relative to a normal line of the first polarizer; and

[0028] a second polarizer, disposed on a side of the dimming liquid crystal layer away from the first polarizer, and an optical axis direction of the first polarizer is parallel to an optical axis direction of the second polarizer;

[0029] Wherein, in the third mode, the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules are arranged along the first direction;

[0030] In the fourth mode, the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules are arranged along a second direction, the second direction is different from the first direction, and the viewing angle of the privacy film in the third mode is smaller than that in the fourth mode.

[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, when the privacy film is in the third mode, the orthographic projection of the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules on the first polarizer is parallel to the optical axis of the first polarizer.

[0032] In one embodiment of the present invention, the angle between the first direction and the normal line of the first polarizer is an acute angle.

[0033] In one embodiment of the present invention, the angle between the first direction and the normal of the first polarizer is greater than or equal to 55° and less than or equal to 89°.

[0034] In one embodiment of the present invention, a first electrode layer is arranged between the first polarizer and the dimming liquid crystal layer, and a second electrode layer is arranged between the second polarizer and the dimming liquid crystal layer, wherein the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer are used to load voltage to control the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules to switch between the first direction and the second direction.

[0035] In one embodiment of the present invention, a first alignment layer is arranged between the first electrode layer and the dimming liquid crystal layer, and a second alignment layer is arranged between the second electrode layer and the dimming liquid crystal layer, and the pre-tilt direction of the first alignment layer and the pre-tilt direction of the second alignment layer are both parallel to the first direction.

[0036] In one embodiment of the present invention, the liquid crystal molecules are positive liquid crystals, and the second direction is parallel to the normal direction of the first polarizer; or

[0037] The liquid crystal molecules are negative liquid crystals, and the second direction is perpendicular to the normal direction of the first polarizer.

[0038] Beneficial effects of the present invention: The present invention arranges the polymer network in the dimming liquid crystal layer along a direction inclined to the normal of the first polarizer, thereby providing a directional effect to the liquid crystal molecules, so that the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules is also inclined to the normal of the first polarizer. Due to the deflection characteristics of the liquid crystal molecules themselves for light, the first light incident along the normal direction of the first polarizer can pass through the second polarizer, and the second light incident along the normal direction of the first polarizer can be blocked or partially blocked by the second polarizer. The display panel provided by the present invention can selectively transmit light at different viewing angles, thereby playing a role in anti-peeping at a specific viewing angle, and the display panel provided by the present invention can also switch between anti-peeping display and conventional display to improve the applicability of the display panel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] The technical solutions and other beneficial effects of the present invention will be made apparent by describing in detail the specific embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0040] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a three-dimensional structure of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 3 Another structural schematic diagram of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of another three-dimensional structure of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 5 Another structural schematic diagram of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of another three-dimensional structure of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 7 Another structural schematic diagram of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 8 A schematic structural diagram of a display device provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 9 A schematic structural diagram of a privacy film provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 10 Another structural schematic diagram of the privacy film provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 11 Another structural schematic diagram of the privacy film provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 12 A schematic diagram of a brightness test structure for a privacy film according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0052] Figure 13 A bar chart showing brightness test data of the privacy film provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0054] The disclosure below provides many different embodiments or examples for realizing different structures of the present invention. In order to simplify the disclosure of the present invention, the components and settings of specific examples are described below. Of course, they are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, the present invention may repeat reference numbers and / or reference letters in different examples. Such repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself indicate the relationship between the various embodiments and / or settings discussed. In addition, the present invention provides examples of various specific processes and materials, but those skilled in the art will recognize the application of other processes and / or the use of other materials.

[0055] The embodiment of the present invention provides a display panel, please refer to Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 The display panel includes a panel body 30 , a first polarizer 11 , a dimming liquid crystal layer 20 and a second polarizer 12 .

[0056] The first polarizer 11 and the second polarizer 12 are arranged opposite to each other, and the optical axis direction of the first polarizer 11 is parallel to the optical axis direction of the second polarizer. The panel body is arranged on the side of the first polarizer 11 away from the second polarizer 12.

[0057] The dimming liquid crystal layer 20 is arranged between the first polarizer 11 and the second polarizer 12. The dimming liquid crystal layer 20 includes a polymer network 21 and liquid crystal molecules 22 distributed between the polymer network 21. The polymer network 21 is arranged along a first direction w, and the first direction w is inclined relative to the normal of the first polarizer 11.

[0058] Furthermore, in the first mode, the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules 22 are arranged along the first direction w.

[0059] In the second mode, the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules 22 are arranged along a second direction which is different from the first direction w, and the viewing angle of the display panel in the first mode is smaller than that in the second mode.

[0060] It should be noted that, in an embodiment of the present invention, the first mode of the display panel can be an anti-peeping display mode, and the second mode of the display panel can be a normal display mode. Furthermore, the dimming liquid crystal layer 20 is configured to, in the first mode, allow a first light ray 61 incident along the normal direction z of the first polarizer 11 to pass through the second polarizer 12, and allow a second light ray 62 incident along the direction z oblique to the normal direction z of the first polarizer 11 to be blocked or partially blocked by the second polarizer 12. In the second mode, the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules 22 is different from the first direction, allowing more light to pass through the second polarizer 12, thereby increasing the viewing angle range of the display panel in the second mode, such that the viewing angle of the display panel in the second mode is greater than that in the first mode.

[0061] During implementation, the embodiments of the present invention arrange the polymer network 21 in the dimming liquid crystal layer 20 along a direction z that is tilted toward the normal of the first polarizer 11, thereby providing an orientation effect on the liquid crystal molecules 22, causing the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules 22 to also be tilted toward the normal of the first polarizer 11. Due to the light deflection properties of the liquid crystal molecules 22, first light incident along the normal of the first polarizer 11 is allowed to pass through the second polarizer 12, while second light incident along the normal of the first polarizer 11 is blocked or partially blocked by the second polarizer 12. The display panel provided by the embodiments of the present invention can selectively transmit light at different viewing angles, thereby providing privacy protection at specific viewing angles. Furthermore, the display panel provided by the present invention can switch between privacy protection display and conventional display, thereby improving the applicability of the display panel.

[0062] For details, please refer to Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 In an embodiment of the present invention, the display panel includes a first polarizer 11 and a second polarizer 12 arranged opposite to each other, a dimming liquid crystal layer 20 arranged between the first polarizer 11 and the second polarizer 12, a panel body 30 arranged on a side of the first polarizer 11 away from the second polarizer 12, and a third polarizer 13 arranged on a side of the panel body 30 away from the first polarizer 11.

[0063] The optical axis direction of the first polarizer 11 is parallel to the optical axis direction of the second polarizer 12 , and the optical axis direction of the first polarizer 11 is perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the third polarizer 13 .

[0064] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, the optical axis directions of the first polarizer 11 and the second polarizer 12 are both parallel to the third direction y, and the optical axis direction of the third polarizer 13 is parallel to the fourth direction x. The panel body 30 is located between the first polarizer 11 and the third polarizer 13 to achieve the normal display function of the panel body 30, and the dimming liquid crystal layer 20 is disposed between the first polarizer 11 and the second polarizer 12 to achieve the anti-peeping function of the display panel.

[0065] Specifically, the display panel also includes a first substrate 41 and a second substrate 42 arranged relatively to each other, a first electrode layer 43 arranged on the side of the first substrate 41 close to the second substrate 42, a second electrode layer 44 arranged on the side of the second substrate 42 close to the first substrate 41, a first alignment layer 45 arranged on the side of the first electrode layer 43 close to the second electrode layer 44, a second alignment layer 46 arranged on the side of the second electrode layer 44 close to the first electrode layer 43, and a dimming liquid crystal layer 20 arranged between the first alignment layer 45 and the second alignment layer 46.

[0066] It should be noted that in an embodiment of the present invention, the first substrate 41 and the second substrate 42 are arranged between the first polarizer 11 and the second polarizer 12, and the first substrate 41 is located between the first polarizer 11 and the second substrate 42, and the second substrate 42 is located between the first substrate 41 and the second polarizer 12, so that the dimming liquid crystal layer 20 is also located between the first polarizer 11 and the second polarizer 12.

[0067] In an embodiment of the present invention, the dimming liquid crystal layer 20 includes a polymer network 21 arranged between a first alignment layer 45 and a second alignment layer 46, and liquid crystal molecules 22 distributed in the polymer network 21, and the polymer network 21 is arranged along a first direction w to give the liquid crystal molecules 22 located therein an orientation effect along the first direction w. In addition, the pre-tilt directions formed by the first alignment layer 45 and the second alignment layer 46 during the alignment process are both parallel to the first direction w, and thus, during the manufacturing process, a polymer network 21 arranged along the first direction w is obtained.

[0068] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first electrode layer 43 and the second electrode layer 44 are used to load voltage to control the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules 22 to switch between the first direction w and the second direction. Specifically, when the voltage difference between the first electrode layer 43 and the second electrode layer 44 is less than a threshold value, the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules 22 is arranged along the first direction w. When the voltage difference between the first electrode layer 43 and the second electrode layer 44 is greater than a threshold value, the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules 22 is arranged along the second direction. The threshold value can be selected according to actual needs and is not limited here.

[0069] Optionally, when no voltage is applied to the first electrode layer 43 and the second electrode layer 44, the liquid crystal molecules 22 are arranged along the first direction w so that the display panel is in a first mode. The dimming liquid crystal layer 20 is used to allow the first light 61 incident along the normal direction z of the first polarizer 11 to pass through the second polarizer 12 in the first mode, and the second light 62 incident along the normal direction z inclined to the first polarizer 11 is blocked or partially blocked by the second polarizer 12.

[0070] It should be noted that when the display panel is in the first mode, the orthographic projection of the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules 22 on the first polarizer 11 is parallel to the optical axis of the first polarizer 11 .

[0071] Specifically, after the first light 61 and the second light 62 pass through the third polarizer 13 and the panel body 30 , the polarization direction of the first light 61 and the polarization direction of the second light 62 are both parallel to the third direction y.

[0072] Continuing from the above, both the first light 61 and the second light 62 propagate in the xz plane, while the polymer network 21 and the liquid crystal molecules 22 are arranged tilted in the yz plane. The first light 61 enters the dimming liquid crystal layer 20 along the normal direction z to the first polarizer 11, while the second light 62 enters the dimming liquid crystal layer 20 along the normal direction z, which is tilted relative to the normal direction z of the first polarizer 11. Because the first light 61 enters along the normal direction of the first polarizer 11, the first light 61 and the liquid crystal molecules 22 are coplanar in three-dimensional space, and the polarization direction of the first light 61 passes only along the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules 22. Therefore, after passing through the dimming liquid crystal layer 20, the first light 61 experiences no phase difference, that is, no deflection. When the first light 61 reaches the second polarizer 12, its polarization direction remains in the third direction y, allowing it to pass through the second polarizer 12.

[0073] In addition, the incident direction of the second light 62 is inclined to the normal direction z of the first polarizer 11, and thus in three-dimensional space, the polarization direction of the second light 62 forms a certain angle with the long axis of the liquid crystal molecule 22. Therefore, after the second light 62 passes through the dimming liquid crystal layer 20, a phase difference will occur, that is, deflection will occur. The second light 62 is deflected into the third light 63, and the polarization direction is changed, and thus it cannot directly pass through the second polarizer 12. Among them, if the polarization direction of the third light 63 is perpendicular to the third direction y, such as Figure 1 As shown, the third light 63 will be completely blocked by the second polarizer 12. At this time, the user can only view the display panel from a normal viewing angle, while at other viewing angles, the display panel does not display any image, thereby preventing peeping. If the polarization direction of the third light 63 forms an acute angle with both the third direction y and the fourth direction x, the third light 63 is decomposed along the third direction y and the fourth direction x, wherein only the portion of the third light 63 decomposed along the third direction y can pass through the second polarizer 12. At this time, the user can view the display panel normally at a normal viewing angle, while at other viewing angles, the display brightness of the display panel will be relatively dim, thereby preventing peeping.

[0074] Furthermore, in the process of deflecting the second light 62 into the third light 63, the light will propagate in two directions of the liquid crystal molecules 22, thereby generating a phase difference, and the phase difference is Re = λ / 2 + nλ (n is an integer), where λ is the wavelength of light in a vacuum. From this formula, it can be obtained that when the polarization vibration direction of the second light 62 is at an angle of 45° to the long axis of the liquid crystal molecule 22, the polarization direction of the second light 62 is deflected by 90° after passing through the liquid crystal molecule 22, that is, the polarization direction of the obtained third light 63 is parallel to the fourth direction x, and the third light 63 will be completely blocked by the second polarizer 12.

[0075] Optionally, when voltage is applied to the first electrode layer 43 and the second electrode layer 44, the liquid crystal molecules 22 can be controlled to deflect so that the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules 22 are arranged along a second direction different from the first direction w, so that the display panel is in the second mode.

[0076] In one embodiment of the present invention, please refer to Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 When the liquid crystal molecules 22 are positive liquid crystals, the second direction is parallel to the normal direction z of the first polarizer 11. At this time, the polarization directions of the first light 61 and the second light 62 are both parallel to the short axis of the liquid crystal molecules. When the first light 61 and the second light 62 pass through the dimming liquid crystal layer 20, they are not deflected. That is, when the first light 61 and the second light 62 reach the second polarizer 12, the polarization directions of the first light 61 and the second light 62 are both parallel to the third direction y. Therefore, both the first light 61 and the second light 62 can pass through the second polarizer 12, placing the display panel in the second mode. Furthermore, the display panel provided by the embodiment of the present invention does not affect the light passing through the panel body 30 and the first polarizer 11 in the second mode, thereby improving the display effect of the display panel in the second mode.

[0077] In another embodiment of the present invention, please refer to Figure 5 as well as Figure 6 When the liquid crystal molecules 22 are negative liquid crystals, the second direction is perpendicular to the normal direction z of the first polarizer 11. At this time, the polarization directions of the first light 61 and the second light 62 are both parallel to the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules. When the first light 61 and the second light 62 pass through the dimming liquid crystal layer 20, they are not deflected. That is, when the first light 61 and the second light 62 reach the second polarizer 12, the polarization directions of the first light 61 and the second light 62 are both parallel to the third direction y. Therefore, both the first light 61 and the second light 62 can pass through the second polarizer 12, placing the display panel in the second mode. Furthermore, the display panel provided by the embodiment of the present invention does not affect the light passing through the panel body 30 and the first polarizer 11 in the second mode, thereby improving the display effect of the display panel in the second mode.

[0078] It should be noted that in an embodiment of the present invention, when the display panel is in the second mode, since the arrangement direction of the liquid crystal molecules 22 is different from the arrangement direction of the polymer network 21, the first light 61 and the second light 62 will both be scattered when passing through the dimming liquid crystal layer 20, making the viewing angle range of the output light more uniform, thereby further improving the display effect in the second mode.

[0079] In an embodiment of the present invention, the polymer network 21 is arranged along a first direction w. Optionally, an angle between the first direction w and a normal direction of the first polarizer 11 is greater than or equal to 1° and less than or equal to 89°.

[0080] Preferably, the angle between the first direction w and the normal direction of the first polarizer 11 is greater than or equal to 55° and less than or equal to 89°.

[0081] In addition, please refer to Figure 7 The display panel further includes a phase compensation module 60 disposed between the first polarizer 11 and the first substrate 41. Specifically, the phase compensation module 60 is located between the first polarizer 11 and the dimming liquid crystal layer 20. Furthermore, the display panel provided by the embodiment of the present invention improves the wide viewing angle display effect of the display panel in the second mode by adding the phase compensation module 60.

[0082] The phase compensation module 60 includes a positive uniaxial C-type compensation film, a negative uniaxial C-type compensation film, or at least one A-type compensation film.

[0083] Optionally, the at least one A-type compensation film includes a stacked first A-type compensation film and a second A-type compensation film, and the optical axis direction of the first A-type compensation film is orthogonal to the optical axis direction of the second A-type compensation film.

[0084] Please refer to Figure 8 , is a display device provided in an embodiment of the present invention, and the display device includes the display panel described in the above embodiment and a backlight module 50 connected to one side of the display panel, and the backlight module 50 is arranged on the side of the third polarizer 13 away from the panel body 30 to provide a backlight source for the display panel.

[0085] Preferably, the backlight module 50 includes a collimated backlight source, and thus in the display device provided in an embodiment of the present invention, when the display panel is in the first mode, the amount of light incident along the normal direction of the first polarizer 11 can be increased, thereby increasing the display brightness at the normal viewing angle in the first mode, so as to improve the display effect in the first mode. When the display panel is in the second mode, since the arrangement direction of the liquid crystal molecules 22 is different from the tilt direction of the polymer network 21, it will scatter the light passing through the dimming liquid crystal layer 20, causing the light of the collimated backlight source to diverge, so as to improve the wide-viewing angle visibility in the second mode, so that the display device still has a good wide-viewing angle display effect in the second mode.

[0086] It should be noted that the backlight module 50 provided in the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to a collimated backlight source, and may also be other conventional backlight sources, such as an edge-lit backlight source, which is not limited here.

[0087] In summary, the embodiments of the present invention arrange the polymer network 21 in the dimming liquid crystal layer 20 along a direction z that is oblique to the normal direction of the first polarizer 11, thereby providing an orientation effect on the liquid crystal molecules 22, so that the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules 22 is also inclined to the normal direction z of the first polarizer 11. Due to the light deflection characteristics of the liquid crystal molecules 22 themselves, first light incident along the normal direction z of the first polarizer 11 can pass through the second polarizer 12, and second light incident along the normal direction z of the first polarizer 11 can be blocked or partially blocked by the second polarizer 12. Therefore, the display panel provided by the embodiments of the present invention can selectively transmit light at different viewing angles, thereby providing a privacy protection function at specific viewing angles. The display panel provided by the present invention can also switch between privacy protection display and conventional display to improve the applicability of the display panel.

[0088] In addition, the embodiment of the present invention also provides a privacy film, please refer to Figure 9 、 Figure 10 as well as Figure 11 As shown, the anti-peep film includes a first polarizer 11 and a second polarizer 12 arranged opposite to each other, and a dimming liquid crystal layer 20 arranged between the first polarizer 11 and the second polarizer 12, wherein the optical axis direction of the first polarizer 11 is parallel to the optical axis direction of the second polarizer 12.

[0089] The dimming liquid crystal layer 20 includes a polymer network 21 and liquid crystal molecules 22 distributed in the polymer network 21 , wherein the polymer network 21 is arranged along a first direction w, and the first direction w is inclined relative to the normal line of the first polarizer 11 .

[0090] In the third mode, the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules 22 are arranged along the first direction w.

[0091] In the fourth mode, the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules 22 are arranged along the second direction, which is different from the first direction w, and the viewing angle of the privacy film in the third mode is smaller than that in the fourth mode.

[0092] It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present invention, the third mode of the privacy film can be the privacy mode, and the fourth mode of the privacy film can be the light-transmitting mode. In addition, the dimming liquid crystal layer 20 is used to, in the third mode, allow the first light 61 incident along the normal direction z of the first polarizer 11 to pass through the second polarizer 12, and allow the second light 62 incident along the normal direction z oblique to the first polarizer 11 to be blocked or partially blocked by the second polarizer 12, such as Figure 9 or in the fourth mode, the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules 22 are arranged along the second direction, so that the privacy film is in the fourth mode, and the second direction is different from the first direction w, as shown Figure 10 or Figure 11As shown, more light can pass through the second polarizer 12 to increase the viewing angle range of the display panel in the second mode, so that the viewing angle of the privacy film in the fourth mode is greater than that in the third mode.

[0093] For details, please refer to Figure 9 、 Figure 10 as well as Figure 11 In this embodiment of the present invention, the optical axis of the first polarizer 11 is parallel to the optical axis of the second polarizer 12. Alternatively, in this embodiment of the present invention, the optical axis of the first polarizer 11 and the optical axis of the second polarizer 12 are both parallel to the third direction y, and the optical axis of the third polarizer 13 is parallel to the fourth direction x. The dimming liquid crystal layer 20 is disposed between the first polarizer 11 and the second polarizer 12 to achieve the privacy function of the privacy film.

[0094] Specifically, the anti-peep film also includes a first substrate 41 and a second substrate 42 arranged relatively to each other, a first electrode layer 43 arranged on the side of the first substrate 41 close to the second substrate 42, a second electrode layer 44 arranged on the side of the second substrate 42 close to the first substrate 41, a first alignment layer 45 arranged on the side of the first electrode layer 43 close to the second electrode layer 44, a second alignment layer 46 arranged on the side of the second electrode layer 44 close to the first electrode layer 43, and a dimming liquid crystal layer 20 arranged between the first alignment layer 45 and the second alignment layer 46.

[0095] It should be noted that in an embodiment of the present invention, the first substrate 41 and the second substrate 42 are arranged between the first polarizer 11 and the second polarizer 12, and the first substrate 41 is located between the first polarizer 11 and the second substrate 42, and the second substrate 42 is located between the first substrate 41 and the second polarizer 12, so that the dimming liquid crystal layer 20 is also located between the first polarizer 11 and the second polarizer 12.

[0096] In an embodiment of the present invention, the dimming liquid crystal layer 20 includes a polymer network 21 arranged between a first alignment layer 45 and a second alignment layer 46, and liquid crystal molecules 22 distributed in the polymer network 21, and the polymer network 21 is arranged along a first direction w to give the liquid crystal molecules 22 located therein an orientation effect along the first direction w. In addition, the pre-tilt directions formed by the first alignment layer 45 and the second alignment layer 46 during the alignment process are both parallel to the first direction w, and thus, during the manufacturing process, a polymer network 21 arranged along the first direction w is obtained.

[0097] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first electrode layer 43 and the second electrode layer 44 are used to load voltage to control the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules 22 to switch between the first direction w and the second direction. Specifically, when the voltage difference between the first electrode layer 43 and the second electrode layer 44 is less than a threshold value, the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules 22 is arranged along the first direction w. When the voltage difference between the first electrode layer 43 and the second electrode layer 44 is greater than a threshold value, the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules 22 is arranged along the second direction. The threshold value can be selected according to actual needs and is not limited here.

[0098] Optionally, when no voltage is applied to the first electrode layer 43 and the second electrode layer 44, the liquid crystal molecules 22 are arranged along the first direction w so that the anti-peep film is in a third mode. The dimming liquid crystal layer 20 is used to allow the first light incident along the normal direction z of the first polarizer 11 to pass through the second polarizer 12 in the third mode, and the second light incident along the normal direction z inclined to the first polarizer 11 is blocked or partially blocked by the second polarizer 12.

[0099] It should be noted that when the privacy film is in the third mode, the orthographic projection of the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules 22 on the first polarizer 11 is parallel to the optical axis of the first polarizer 11 .

[0100] Specifically, after the first light 61 and the second light 62 pass through the first polarizer 11 , the polarization directions of the first light 61 and the second light 62 are both parallel to the optical axis direction of the first polarizer 11 , ie, the third direction y.

[0101] It should be noted that both the first light 61 and the second light 62 propagate in the xz plane, and the polymer network 21 and the liquid crystal molecules 22 are arranged tilted in the yz plane. The first light 61 enters the dimming liquid crystal layer 20 along the normal direction z to the first polarizer 11, while the second light 62 enters the dimming liquid crystal layer 20 along the normal direction z, which is tilted relative to the normal direction z of the first polarizer 11. Because the first light 61 is incident along the normal direction of the first polarizer 11, the first light 61 and the liquid crystal molecules 22 are coplanar in three-dimensional space, and the polarization direction of the first light 61 passes only along the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules 22. Therefore, after passing through the dimming liquid crystal layer 20, the first light 61 experiences no phase difference, that is, no deflection. When the first light 61 reaches the second polarizer 12, its polarization direction remains in the third direction y, allowing it to pass through the second polarizer 12.

[0102] In addition, the incident direction of the second light 62 is inclined to the normal direction z of the first polarizer 11, and thus in three-dimensional space, the polarization direction of the second light 62 forms a certain angle with the long axis of the liquid crystal molecule 22. Therefore, after the second light 62 passes through the dimming liquid crystal layer 20, a phase difference will occur, that is, deflection will occur. The second light 62 is deflected into the third light 63, and the polarization direction is changed, and thus it cannot directly pass through the second polarizer 12. Among them, if the polarization direction of the third light 63 is perpendicular to the third direction y, such as Figure 9 As shown, the third light 63 will be completely blocked by the second polarizer 12. At this time, the user can only see the brightness display from the normal viewing angle, and there is no brightness display at other viewing angles, so as to prevent peeping. If the polarization direction of the third light 63 forms an acute angle with both the third direction y and the fourth direction x, the third light 63 is decomposed along the third direction y and the fourth direction x, wherein only the part of the third light 63 decomposed along the third direction y can pass through the second polarizer. At this time, the user can watch normally at the normal viewing angle, while the display brightness at other viewing angles will be relatively dim, so as to prevent peeping.

[0103] Furthermore, in the process of deflecting the second light 62 into the third light 63, the light will propagate in two directions of the liquid crystal molecules 22, thereby generating a phase difference, and the phase difference is Re = λ / 2 + nλ (n is an integer), where λ is the wavelength of light in a vacuum. From this formula, it can be obtained that when the polarization vibration direction of the second light 62 is at an angle of 45° to the long axis of the liquid crystal molecule 22, the polarization direction of the second light 62 is deflected by 90° after passing through the liquid crystal molecule 22, that is, the polarization direction of the obtained third light 63 is parallel to the fourth direction x, and the third light 63 will be completely blocked by the second polarizer 12.

[0104] Optionally, when voltage is applied to the first electrode layer 43 and the second electrode layer 44, the liquid crystal molecules 22 can be controlled to deflect so that the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules 22 are arranged along a second direction, and the second direction is different from the first direction w, so that the privacy film is in the fourth mode.

[0105] In one embodiment of the present invention, please refer to Figure 10 When the liquid crystal molecules 22 are positive liquid crystals, the second direction is parallel to the normal direction z of the first polarizer 11. At this time, the polarization directions of the first light 61 and the second light 62 are both parallel to the short axis of the liquid crystal molecules. When the first light 61 and the second light 62 pass through the dimming liquid crystal layer 20, no deflection occurs. That is, when the first light 61 and the second light 62 reach the second polarizer 12, the polarization directions of the first light 61 and the second light 62 are both parallel to the third direction y. Then, both the first light 61 and the second light 62 can pass through the second polarizer 12, so that the anti-privacy film is in the fourth mode.

[0106] In another embodiment of the present invention, please refer to Figure 11 When the liquid crystal molecules 22 are negative liquid crystals, the second direction is perpendicular to the normal direction z of the first polarizer 11. At this time, the polarization directions of the first light 61 and the second light 62 are both parallel to the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules. When the first light 61 and the second light 62 pass through the dimming liquid crystal layer 20, no deflection occurs. That is, when the first light 61 and the second light 62 reach the second polarizer 12, the polarization directions of the first light 61 and the second light 62 are both parallel to the third direction y. Then, both the first light 61 and the second light 62 can pass through the second polarizer 12, so that the anti-privacy film is in the fourth mode.

[0107] It should be noted that in an embodiment of the present invention, when the privacy film is in the fourth mode, since the arrangement direction of the liquid crystal molecules 22 is different from the arrangement direction of the polymer network 21, the first light 61 and the second light 62 will be scattered when passing through the dimming liquid crystal layer 20, making the viewing angle range of the output light more uniform, so as to further improve the brightness of the light at a large viewing angle in the fourth mode.

[0108] Furthermore, the embodiment of the present invention tests the viewing angle range of the privacy film in the third mode, and the test structure of the privacy film is as follows: Figure 12 As shown, and it is concluded that Figure 13 The results are shown. Figure 12 The device includes the privacy film provided by the embodiment of the present invention and a test backlight module 70 disposed on one side of the privacy film. Figure 13 The horizontal axis is the tilt angle of the polymer network 21, that is, the angle between the first direction w and the normal direction of the first polarizer 11, the vertical axis is the ratio of the brightness at a 45° viewing angle to the brightness at a normal viewing angle, and the BL in the horizontal axis in the figure represents the ratio of the brightness of the test backlight module 70 at a 45° viewing angle to the brightness at a normal viewing angle.

[0109] The test backlight module 70 is set on the side of the anti-peep film with the first polarizer 11, and the test is performed using a fast viewing angle measurement system, and the test instrument model is Eldim / EZConrast MS88, which is used to test the distribution of light intensity with observation angle. Figure 13 It can be seen that the brightness ratio represented by the ordinate is the ratio of the brightness at a 45° angle in the xz plane to the brightness along the z axis, and the tilt angle of the polymer network 21 is between 55° and 89°, indicating that the privacy film has a good privacy protection effect. That is, in the privacy film provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the angle between the first direction w and the normal direction of the first polarizer 11 is greater than or equal to 55° and less than or equal to 89°.

[0110] Preferably, when the tilt direction of the polymer network 21 is 65°, the brightness ratio of the anti-peep film is 1.51%, and the brightness is darkest. That is, when the angle between the first direction w and the normal direction of the first polarizer 11 is 65°, the anti-peep film provided by the embodiment of the present invention has the best anti-peep effect.

[0111] As mentioned above, the privacy film provided by the embodiment of the present invention can selectively transmit light at different viewing angles, thereby playing a role in privacy protection at specific viewing angles. The privacy film provided by the present invention can also be switched between the third mode and the fourth mode to improve the applicability of the privacy film.

[0112] In the above embodiments, the description of each embodiment has its own focus. For parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0113] The above is a detailed introduction to an anti-peep film, a display panel, and a display device provided in the embodiments of the present invention. Specific examples are used herein to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present invention. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the technical solutions and core ideas of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A display panel, characterized in that: include: Panel body; a first polarizer, disposed on one side of the panel body; a dimming liquid crystal layer, disposed on a side of the first polarizer away from the panel body, the dimming liquid crystal layer comprising a polymer network and liquid crystal molecules distributed in the polymer network, wherein the polymer network is arranged along a first direction, and the first direction is inclined relative to a normal line of the first polarizer; and a second polarizer disposed on a side of the dimming liquid crystal layer away from the first polarizer, wherein the optical axis directions of the first polarizer and the second polarizer are both parallel to a third direction, and the third direction and the normal direction of the first polarizer are both parallel to the yz plane; Wherein, in the first mode, the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules are arranged along the first direction, and the polymer network and the liquid crystal molecules are arranged tilted in the yz plane; In the second mode, the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules are arranged along a second direction, which is different from the first direction, and the viewing angle of the display panel in the first mode is smaller than that in the second mode.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: When the display panel is in the first mode, the orthographic projection of the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules on the first polarizer is parallel to the optical axis of the first polarizer.

3. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: An angle between the first direction and the normal line of the first polarizer is acute.

4. The display panel according to claim 3, wherein: An angle between the first direction and the normal of the first polarizer is greater than or equal to 1° and less than or equal to 89°.

5. The display panel according to claim 3, wherein: An angle between the first direction and the normal of the first polarizer is greater than or equal to 55° and less than or equal to 89°.

6. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: A first electrode layer is arranged between the first polarizer and the dimming liquid crystal layer, and a second electrode layer is arranged between the second polarizer and the dimming liquid crystal layer, wherein the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer are used to load voltage to control the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules to switch between the first direction and the second direction.

7. The display panel according to claim 6, wherein: A first alignment layer is arranged between the first electrode layer and the dimming liquid crystal layer, and a second alignment layer is arranged between the second electrode layer and the dimming liquid crystal layer, and the pre-tilt direction of the first alignment layer and the pre-tilt direction of the second alignment layer are both parallel to the first direction.

8. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The liquid crystal molecules are positive liquid crystals, and the second direction is parallel to the normal direction of the first polarizer; or The liquid crystal molecules are negative liquid crystals, and the second direction is perpendicular to the normal direction of the first polarizer.

9. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The display panel further includes a third polarizer disposed on a side of the panel body away from the first polarizer, and an optical axis direction of the third polarizer is perpendicular to an optical axis direction of the first polarizer.

10. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein The display panel further includes a phase compensation module disposed between the first polarizer and the dimming liquid crystal layer. The phase compensation module includes a positive uniaxial C-type compensation film, a negative uniaxial C-type compensation film, or at least one A-type compensation film.

11. The display panel according to claim 10, wherein: The phase compensation module includes a first A-type compensation film and a second A-type compensation film stacked together, wherein the optical axis direction of the first A-type compensation film is orthogonal to the optical axis direction of the second A-type compensation film.

12. A display device, characterized in that: The display device includes the display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and a backlight module located on one side of the display panel.

13. The display device according to claim 12, wherein: The backlight module includes a collimated backlight source.

14. A privacy film, characterized in that: include: First polarizer; a dimming liquid crystal layer disposed on one side of the first polarizer, the dimming liquid crystal layer comprising a polymer network and liquid crystal molecules distributed in the polymer network, wherein the polymer network is arranged along a first direction, and the first direction is inclined relative to a normal line of the first polarizer; and a second polarizer disposed on a side of the dimming liquid crystal layer away from the first polarizer, wherein the optical axis directions of the first polarizer and the second polarizer are both parallel to a third direction, and the third direction and the normal direction of the first polarizer are both parallel to the yz plane; Wherein, in the third mode, the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules are arranged along the first direction, and the polymer network and the liquid crystal molecules are arranged tilted in the yz plane; In the fourth mode, the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules are arranged along a second direction, the second direction is different from the first direction, and the viewing angle of the privacy film in the third mode is smaller than that in the fourth mode.

15. The privacy film according to claim 14, characterized in that: When the privacy film is in the third mode, the orthographic projection of the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules on the first polarizer is parallel to the optical axis of the first polarizer.

16. The privacy film according to claim 14, wherein: An angle between the first direction and the normal line of the first polarizer is acute.

17. The privacy film according to claim 16, wherein: An angle between the first direction and the normal of the first polarizer is greater than or equal to 55° and less than or equal to 89°.

18. The privacy film according to claim 14, wherein: A first electrode layer is arranged between the first polarizer and the dimming liquid crystal layer, and a second electrode layer is arranged between the second polarizer and the dimming liquid crystal layer, wherein the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer are used to load voltage to control the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules to switch between the first direction and the second direction.

19. The privacy film according to claim 18, wherein: A first alignment layer is arranged between the first electrode layer and the dimming liquid crystal layer, and a second alignment layer is arranged between the second electrode layer and the dimming liquid crystal layer, and the pre-tilt direction of the first alignment layer and the pre-tilt direction of the second alignment layer are both parallel to the first direction.

20. The privacy film according to claim 14, wherein: The liquid crystal molecules are positive liquid crystals, and the second direction is parallel to the normal direction of the first polarizer; or The liquid crystal molecules are negative liquid crystals, and the second direction is perpendicular to the normal direction of the first polarizer.

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