Method and configuration for improving the performance of a sensor below a display

Abstract

An electronic device, which may include a display and a sensor located below the display. The display may include a sub-pixel array for displaying an image to a user of the electronic device. At least a portion of the sub-pixel array may be selectively removed in a pixel removal region to increase the light transmittance through the display to the sensor. The pixel removal region may include a plurality of pixel-less regions that have no thin-film transistor structure, no power lines, have a continuous open region due to re-routed row / column lines, are partially free of touch circuitry, optionally include virtual contacts, and / or have a selectively patterned display layer.

Description

[0001] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 825,978, filed on March 20, 2020, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 837,628, filed on April 23, 2019, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to electronic devices, and more particularly to electronic devices having a display.

[0003] Electronic devices typically include a display. For example, an electronic device may have an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display based on organic light-emitting diode pixels. In this type of display, each pixel includes a light-emitting diode and a thin-film transistor for controlling the application of a signal to the light-emitting diode to produce light. The light-emitting diode may include an OLED layer positioned between an anode and a cathode.

[0004] There is a trend towards borderless electronic devices having a full-screen display. However, these devices may still need to include sensors such as cameras, ambient light sensors, and proximity sensors to provide additional device capabilities. Since the display now covers the entire front of the electronic device, the sensors will have to be placed under the display stack. However, in practice, the amount of light transmitted through the display stack is very low (i.e., the transmission may be less than 20% in the visible spectrum), which severely limits the sensing performance under the display.

[0005] It is in this context that the embodiments herein are created. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An electronic device may include a display and an optical sensor formed under the display. A pixel removal area on the display may at least partially overlap with the sensor. The pixel removal area may include a plurality of non-pixel areas, each non-pixel area not containing a thin-film transistor. The plurality of non-pixel areas are configured to increase the transmittance of light through the display to the sensor. In a suitable arrangement, half of all the display sub-pixels in the pixel removal area may be removed to increase the transmittance of light passing through the display to the sensor. Generally, 10% to 90% of all the display sub-pixels in the pixel removal area may be removed to increase the transmittance of light passing through the display to the sensor.

[0007] According to one embodiment, a subset of all display sub-pixels in a pixel removal region can be removed by iteratively eliminating nearest-neighbor sub-pixels of the same color. The display can include more than one pixel removal region, and the more than one pixel removal region can have the same or different dimensions / shapes. The pixel removal region can cover the entire edge of the display. The pixel removal region can cover the corner of the display. The pixel removal region can cover a notch region in the display. The pixel removal region can also cover the entire display area. The pixel removal region can optionally cover any part of the display.

[0008] The plurality of non-pixel regions can also be without vertical power routing traces. If desired, at least some of the horizontal control lines and vertical control lines in the plurality of non-pixel regions are re-routed to provide a continuous open area that reduces the amount of diffraction of light passing through the display to the sensor. Each non-pixel region in the plurality of non-pixel regions can also be without virtual contacts, or can optionally include virtual contacts to help provide emission current uniformity in the pixel removal region.

[0009] The electronic device can also include a conductive touch sensor grid formed on the display. In one suitable arrangement, the conductive touch sensor grid is not removed from the pixel removal region. In another suitable arrangement, the conductive touch sensor grid is completely removed from the pixel removal region. In yet another suitable arrangement, the conductive touch sensor grid is only partially removed from the pixel removal region. The display can also include a cover layer that is selectively patterned in the pixel removal region to increase the transmittance of light passing through the display to the sensor. The cover layer can be a display layer selected from the group consisting of a substrate protection layer, a gate dielectric layer, an inorganic passivation layer, and an organic pixel definition layer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary electronic device having a display and one or more sensors according to one embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2A is a schematic diagram of an exemplary display having light-emitting elements according to one embodiment.

[0012] Figure 2B is a circuit diagram of an exemplary display pixel according to one embodiment.

[0013] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary display stack at least partially covering a sensor according to one embodiment.

[0014] Figures 4A to 4D is a top view showing various pixel removal schemes for improving optical transmittance according to some embodiments.

[0015] Figure 5A is a top layout diagram showing how red sub-pixels can be systematically removed according to an embodiment.

[0016] Figure 5B is showing how, according to an embodiment, Figure 5A from the arrangement of

[0017] Figure 6A and Figure 6B is an illustration showing an exemplary pixel removal scheme following the process shown in Figure 5A according to an embodiment.

[0018] Figure 6C is an illustration showing non-uniform sub-pixel omission according to an embodiment.

[0019] Figure 6D is an illustration showing another exemplary pixel removal scheme according to an embodiment.

[0020] Figure 6E is an illustration showing a vertical pixel removal scheme according to an embodiment.

[0021] Figure 6F is an illustration of a pixel arrangement after two pixel removal iterations according to an embodiment.

[0022] Figure 6G is an illustration of a pixel arrangement with more green sub-pixels removed according to an embodiment.

[0023] Figure 6H is an illustration of a non-pentile pixel arrangement after pixel removal according to an embodiment.

[0024] Figures 7A to 7F is a front view of a display of an electronic device according to some embodiments, showing how the display can have one or more local regions where the schemes of FIGS. 4 to 6 are used to selectively remove pixels.

[0025] Figure 7G is a cross-sectional side view of a display of an electronic device according to an embodiment, showing how the display can have one or more local regions where pixels are selectively removed at a curved edge.

[0026] Figure 8A is a top layout diagram showing how sub-pixel transistors can be selectively removed to increase transmittance according to an embodiment.

[0027] Figure 8BIs a top layout view showing how the power supply line on the removed transistor can also be omitted according to an embodiment to further increase the transmittance.

[0028] Figure 8C Is a top layout view showing how the horizontal wiring lines and vertical wiring lines can be re-wired according to an embodiment to provide a larger continuous opening to reduce optical diffraction.

[0029] Figure 8D Is a top layout view showing how the sub-pixel structure can be re-positioned along a single row according to an embodiment.

[0030] Figure 8E Is a top layout view showing how the size of the sub-pixel structure can be enlarged according to an embodiment.

[0031] Figure 8F Is a top layout view showing how an opaque mask can be used to define an aperture opening according to an embodiment.

[0032] Figure 9A Is a top layout view showing an exemplary touch conductive grid circuit formed above the pixel removal region according to an embodiment.

[0033] Figure 9B Is a top layout view showing how the touch conductive grid circuit can be partially removed above the pixel removal region according to an embodiment.

[0034] Figure 10A Is a top layout view showing how the region where the sub-pixel transistor has been removed lacks virtual contacts according to an embodiment.

[0035] Figure 10B Is a top layout view showing how the region where the sub-pixel transistor has been removed includes virtual contacts according to an embodiment.

[0036] Figure 10C Is a graph of emission current versus gate-source voltage according to an embodiment, showing how the presence of virtual contacts can help improve the emission current distribution.

[0037] Figure 11 Is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary display stack according to an embodiment, showing how at least some of the cover layers within the display stack can be selectively patterned to improve optical transmittance. Detailed Description

[0038] Figure 1An exemplary electronic device of a type that may have a display is shown. The electronic device 10 may be a computing device such as a laptop computer, a computer monitor including an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a cellular phone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device, a smaller device (such as a wristwatch device, a pendant device, a headset or earpiece device, a device embedded in glasses or other equipment worn on a user's head, or other wearable or miniature device), a display, a computer monitor including an embedded computer, a computer monitor not including an embedded computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, an embedded system (such as a system in which electronic equipment having a display is installed in a kiosk or an automobile), or other electronic equipment. The electronic device 10 may have the shape of a pair of glasses (e.g., a support frame), may form a housing having a helmet shape, or may have other configurations for assisting in mounting and securing components of one or more displays on a user's head or near the eyes.

[0039] As Figure 1 shown, the electronic device 10 may include control circuitry 16 for supporting the operation of the device 10. The control circuitry 16 may include storage devices such as hard drive storage, non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory configured to form a solid state drive or other electrically programmable read only memory), volatile memory (e.g., static random access memory or dynamic random access memory), and the like. Processing circuitry in the control circuitry 16 may be used to control the operation of the device 10. The processing circuitry may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors, power management units, audio chips, application specific integrated circuits, and the like.

[0040] Input-output circuitry in the device 10 such as the input-output device 12 may be used to allow data to be provided to the device 10 and to allow data to be provided from the device 10 to external devices. The input-output device 12 may include buttons, joysticks, scroll wheels, touch pads, keypads, keyboards, microphones, speakers, audio generators, vibrators, cameras, sensors, light emitting diodes and other status indicators, data ports, and the like. A user may control the operation of the device 10 by supplying commands through input resources of the input-output device 12 and may receive status information and other outputs from the device 10 using output resources of the input-output device 12.

[0041] The input-output device 12 may include one or more displays, such as display 14. The display 14 may be a touch screen display including a touch sensor for collecting touch inputs from a user, or the display 14 may be insensitive to touch. The touch sensor of the display 14 may be based on an array of capacitive touch sensor electrodes, an acoustic touch sensor structure, a resistive touch component, a force-based touch sensor structure, a light-based touch sensor, or other suitable touch sensor arrangements. The touch sensor for the display 14 may be formed by electrodes formed on a common display substrate having display pixels of the display 14, or may be formed by a separate touch sensor panel overlapping the pixels of the display 14. If desired, the display 14 may be insensitive to touch (i.e., the touch sensor may be omitted). The display 14 in the electronic device 10 may be a heads-up display that can be viewed without the user having to move away from a typical viewing point, or may be a head-mounted display incorporated into a device worn on the user's head. If desired, the display 14 may also be a holographic display for displaying holograms.

[0042] The control circuit 16 may be used to run software on the device 10, such as operating system code and application programs. During operation of the device 10, the software running on the control circuit 16 may display images on the display 14.

[0043] The input-output device 12 may also include one or more sensors 13, such as force sensors (e.g., strain gauges, capacitive force sensors, resistive force sensors, etc.), audio sensors such as microphones, touch and / or proximity sensors such as capacitive sensors (e.g., two-dimensional capacitive touch sensors associated with a display, and / or touch sensors forming buttons, touchpads, or other input devices not associated with a display), and other sensors. According to some embodiments, sensors 13 may include optical sensors such as optical sensors that emit and detect light (e.g., optical proximity sensors such as transmissive-reflective optical proximity structures), ultrasonic sensors, and / or other touch sensors and / or proximity sensors, monochromatic and color ambient light sensors, image sensors, fingerprint sensors, temperature sensors, proximity sensors, and other sensors for measuring three-dimensional contactless gestures ("mid-air gestures"), pressure sensors, sensors for detecting position, orientation, and / or motion (e.g., accelerometers, magnetic sensors (such as compass sensors), gyroscopes, and / or inertial measurement units that include some or all of these sensors), health sensors, radio frequency sensors, depth sensors (e.g., structured light sensors and / or depth sensors based on stereoscopic imaging devices), optical sensors (such as self-mixing sensors and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors that acquire time-of-flight measurements), humidity sensors, moisture sensors, gaze tracking sensors, and / or other sensors. In some arrangements, the device 10 may use sensors 13 and / or other input-output devices to acquire user input (e.g., buttons may be used to acquire button press input, touch sensors overlapping the display may be used to acquire user touchscreen input, touchpads may be used to acquire touch input, microphones may be used to acquire audio input, accelerometers may be used to monitor when a finger touches an input surface and thus may be used to acquire finger press input, etc.).

[0044] The display 14 may be an organic light-emitting diode display or may be a display based on other types of display technologies. In this document, device configurations where the display 14 is an organic light-emitting diode display are sometimes described as examples. However, this is merely illustrative. Any suitable type of display may be used if desired. Generally speaking, the display 14 may have a rectangular shape (i.e., the display 14 may have a rectangular occupied area and a rectangular peripheral edge extending around the rectangular occupied area) or may have other suitable shapes. The display 14 may be flat or may have a curved profile.

[0045] Figure 2A A top view of a portion of the display 14 is shown. As Figure 2AAs shown, the display 14 may have an array of pixels 22 formed on a substrate. The pixels 22 may receive data signals through signal paths such as data lines D, and may receive one or more control signals through control signal paths such as horizontal control lines G (sometimes referred to as gate lines, scan lines, emission control lines, etc.). There may be any suitable number of rows and columns of pixels 22 in the display 14 (e.g., dozens or more, hundreds or more, or thousands or more). Each pixel 22 may have a light-emitting diode 26 that emits light 24 under the control of a pixel control circuit formed by a thin-film transistor circuit such as thin-film transistor 28 and a thin-film capacitor. The thin-film transistor 28 may be a polysilicon thin-film transistor, a semiconductor oxide thin-film transistor (such as an indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) transistor), or a thin-film transistor formed of other semiconductors. The pixels 22 may include light-emitting diodes of different colors (e.g., red, green, and blue) to provide the ability to display a color image on the display 14, or may be monochromatic pixels.

[0046] A display driver circuit may be used to control the operation of the pixels 22. The display driver circuit may be formed by an integrated circuit, a thin-film transistor circuit, and / or other suitable circuits. Figure 2A The display driver circuit 30 may include a communication circuit for communicating with a system control circuit such as Figure 1 the control circuit 16 through a path 32. The path 32 may be formed by traces on a flexible printed circuit or other cables. During operation, the control circuit (e.g., Figure 1 the control circuit 16) may provide information about the image to be displayed on the display 14 to the display driver circuit 30.

[0047] To display an image on the display pixels 22, the display driver circuit 30 may provide image data to the data lines D while sending a clock signal and other control signals to a support display driver circuit such as the gate driver circuit 34 through a path 38. If needed, the display driver circuit 30 may also provide a clock signal and other control signals to the gate driver circuit 34 on the opposite edge of the display 14.

[0048] The gate driver circuit 34 (sometimes referred to as a row control circuit) may be implemented as part of an integrated circuit and / or may be implemented using a thin-film transistor circuit. The horizontal control lines G in the display 14 may carry gate line signals such as scan line signals, emission enable control signals, and other horizontal control signals for controlling the display pixels 22 in each row. There may be any suitable number of horizontal control signals for each row of pixels 22 (e.g., one or more row control signals, two or more row control signals, three or more row control signals, four or more row control signals, etc.).

[0049] The region on the display 14 where the display pixels 22 are formed is sometimes referred to herein as the active region. The electronic device 10 has an outer housing with a peripheral edge. The region surrounding the active region and within the peripheral edge of the device 10 is the border region. Images can only be displayed to the user of the device in the active region. It is generally desirable to minimize the border region of the device 10. For example, the device 10 can be provided with a full-screen display 14 that extends across the entire front face of the device. If desired, the display 14 can also wrap around the edges of the front face such that at least a portion of the lateral edges or at least a portion of the back surface of the device 10 is used for display purposes.

[0050] Figure 2B FIG. is a circuit diagram illustrating an exemplary organic light-emitting diode display pixel 22 in the display 14. As Figure 2B shown, the display pixel 22 can include a storage capacitor Cst and associated pixel transistors such as a semiconductor oxide transistor Toxide, a driving transistor Tdrive, a data loading transistor Tdata, a first emission transistor Tem1, a second emission transistor Tem2, and an anode reset transistor Tar. While the transistor Toxide is formed using a semiconductor oxide (e.g., a transistor having an n-type channel formed of a semiconductor oxide such as indium gallium zinc oxide or IGZO), the other transistors can be thin-film transistors formed of a semiconductor such as silicon (e.g., a polysilicon channel deposited using a low-temperature process, sometimes referred to as “LTPS” or low-temperature polysilicon). The semiconductor oxide transistor exhibits lower leakage than a silicon transistor, so implementing the transistor Toxide as a semiconductor oxide transistor will help reduce flicker (e.g., by preventing current leakage from the gate terminal of the driving transistor Tdrive).

[0051] In another suitable arrangement, the transistors Toxide and Tdrive can be implemented as semiconductor oxide transistors, while the remaining transistors Tdata, Tem1, Tem2, and Tar are LTPS transistors. The transistor Tdrive acts as a driving transistor and has a threshold voltage that is critical to the emission current of the pixel 22. Since the threshold voltage of the transistor Tdrive can experience hysteresis, forming the driving transistor as a top-gate semiconductor oxide transistor can help reduce hysteresis (e.g., a top-gate IGZO transistor experiences less Vth hysteresis than a silicon transistor). If desired, any of the remaining transistors Tdata, Tem1, Tem2, and Tar can be implemented as semiconductor oxide transistors. Generally, any one of the transistors Tdrive, Tdata, Tem1, Tem2, and Tar can be an n-type (i.e., n-channel) or p-type (i.e., p-channel) silicon thin-film transistor. If desired, the pixel 22 can include more or fewer than six transistors and / or can include more or fewer than one internal capacitor.

[0052] The display pixel 22 may include an organic light emitting diode (OLED) 204. A positive power supply voltage VDDEL may be provided to the positive power supply terminal 200, and a ground power supply voltage VSSEL may be provided to the ground power supply terminal 202. The positive power supply voltage VDDEL may be 3V, 4V, 5V, 6V, 7V, from 2V to 8V, or any suitable positive power supply voltage level. The ground power supply voltage VSSEL may be 0V, -1V, -2V, -3V, -4V, -5V, -6V, -7V, or any suitable ground or negative power supply voltage level. The state of the driving transistor Tdrive controls the amount of current flowing from the terminal 200 to the terminal 202 through the diode 204, and thus controls the amount of emitted light from the display pixel 22. The organic light emitting diode 204 may have an associated parasitic capacitance C OLED (not shown).

[0053] The terminal 209 may be used to provide an anode reset voltage Var to assist in turning off the diode 204 when the diode 204 is not in use. Thus, the terminal 209 is sometimes referred to as the anode reset or initialization line. Control signals from a display driver circuit such as Figure 2A the row driver circuit 34 are provided to control terminals such as row control terminals 212, 214-1, 214-2, and 214-3. The row control terminal 212 may be used as an emission control terminal (sometimes referred to as an emission line or emission control line), and the row control terminals 214-1, 214-2, and 214-3 may be used as a first scan control terminal, a second scan control terminal, and a third scan control terminal (sometimes referred to as scan lines or scan control lines). An emission control signal EM may be provided to the terminal 212. Scan control signals SC1, SC2, and SC3 may be applied to the scan terminals 214-1, 214-2, and 214-3, respectively. Data input terminals such as the data signal terminal 210 are coupled to Figure 2A the corresponding data lines D of

[0054] for receiving image data for the display pixel 22. The data terminal 210 may also be referred to as a data line. Figure 2BIn the example, the transistors Tem1, Tdrive, Tem2, and the OLED 304 can be serially coupled between the power terminal 200 and the power terminal 202. Specifically, the first emission control transistor Tem1 can have a source terminal coupled to the positive power terminal 200, a gate terminal receiving the emission control signal EM2 via the emission line 212, and a drain terminal (labeled Node1). The terms "source" terminal and "drain" terminal of a transistor can sometimes be used interchangeably and can thus be referred to as "source-drain" terminals. The drive transistor Tdrive can have a source terminal coupled to Node1, a gate terminal (labeled Node2), and a drain terminal (labeled Node3). The second emission control transistor Tem2 can have a source terminal coupled to Node3, a gate terminal also receiving the emission control signal EM via the emission line 212, and a drain terminal (labeled Node4) coupled to the ground power terminal 202 via the light-emitting diode 204. Configured in this way, the emission control signal EM can be asserted during the emission phase to turn on the transistors Tem1 and Tem2 to allow current to flow through the light-emitting diode 204.

[0055] The storage capacitor Cst can have a first terminal coupled to the positive power line 200 and a second terminal coupled to Node2. The image data loaded into the pixel 22 can be at least partially stored on the pixel 22 by using the capacitor Cst to hold the charge throughout the emission phase. The transistor Toxide can have a source terminal coupled to Node2, a gate terminal configured to receive the scan control signal SC1 via the scan line 214-1, and a drain terminal coupled to Node3. The signal SC1 can be asserted to turn on the transistor Toxide, thereby shorting the drain terminal and the gate terminal of the transistor Tdrive. The transistor configuration with the gate terminal and the drain terminal shorted is sometimes referred to as being "diode-connected".

[0056] The data loading transistor Tdata can have a source terminal coupled to the data line 210, a gate terminal configured to receive the scan control signal SC2 via the scan line 214-2, and a drain terminal coupled to Node1. Configured in this way, the signal SC2 can be asserted to turn on the transistor Tdata, which will allow the data voltage from the data line 210 to be loaded onto Node1. The transistor Tar can have a source terminal coupled to Node4, a gate terminal configured to receive the scan control signal SC3 via the scan line 214-3, and a drain terminal coupled to the initialization line 209. Configured in this way, the scan control signal SC3 can be asserted to turn on the transistor Tar, which will drive Node4 to the anode reset voltage level Var. If needed, the anode reset voltage Var on the line 209 can be dynamically biased to different levels during the operation of the pixel 22.

[0057] A device 10 having a full - cover display 14 that covers the entire front of the device may have to mount a sensor 13 below the display 14. Figure 3 is a cross - sectional side view of an exemplary display stack of a display 14 that at least partially covers a sensor according to one embodiment. As Figure 3 shown, the display stack may include a backsheet film 300 and a substrate, such as a substrate 302 formed on the backsheet film 300. The substrate 302 may be formed of glass, metal, plastic, ceramic, sapphire, or other suitable substrate materials. In some arrangements, the substrate 302 may be an organic substrate formed of polyimide (PI), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) (as examples). The surface of the substrate 302 may optionally be covered with one or more buffer layers (e.g., inorganic buffer layers such as a silicon oxide layer, a silicon nitride layer, etc.).

[0058] A thin - film transistor (TFT) layer 304 may be formed above the substrate 302. The TFT layer 304 may include thin - film transistor circuits such as thin - film transistors, thin - film capacitors, associated routing circuits, and other thin - film structures formed within multiple metal routing layers and dielectric layers. An organic light - emitting diode (OLED) layer 306 may be formed above the TFT layer 304. The OLED layer 306 may include a diode cathode layer, a diode anode layer, and emissive materials interposed between the cathode layer and the anode layer.

[0059] The circuits formed in the TFT layer 304 and the OLED layer 306 may be protected by a packaging layer 308. For example, the packaging layer 308 may include a first inorganic packaging layer, an organic packaging layer formed on the first inorganic packaging layer, and a second inorganic packaging layer formed on the organic packaging layer. The packaging layer 308 formed in this way may help prevent moisture and other potential contaminants from damaging the conductive circuits covered by the layer 308.

[0060] One or more polarizing films 312 may be formed above the packaging layer 308 using an adhesive 310. The adhesive 310 may be implemented using an optically clear adhesive (OCA) material that provides high transmittance. One or more touch layers 316 that implement the touch - sensor function of the touch - screen display 14 may be formed above the polarizing film 312 using an adhesive 314 (e.g., an OCA material). For example, the touch layer 316 may include horizontal touch - sensor electrodes and vertical touch - sensor electrodes that together form a capacitive touch - sensor electrode array. Finally, the display stack may be covered by a cover glass layer 320 formed above the touch layer 316 using an additional adhesive 318 (e.g., an OCA material). The cover glass 320 may be used as an outer protective layer for the display 14.

[0061] Still referring to Figure 3, the sensor 13 may be formed below the display stack within the electronic device 10. Figure 1 As described, sensor 13 may be an optical sensor, such as a camera (e.g., an infrared camera), a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, a fingerprint sensor, or other light-based sensor. In such cases, the performance of sensor 13 depends on the transmission of light through the display stack, as indicated by arrow 350. However, typical display stacks have fairly limited transmission characteristics. For example, more than 80% of light in the visible spectrum may be lost when traveling through the display stack, which makes sensing under display 14 challenging.

[0062] Each of the multiple layers in the display stack contributes to reducing light transmission to the sensor 13. In particular, the dense thin film transistors and associated routing structures in the TFT layer 304 of the display stack contribute significantly to the low transmission. According to one embodiment, at least some of the display pixels may be selectively removed in an area of ​​the display stack directly above the sensor 13. The area of ​​the display 14 that at least partially covers or overlaps the sensor 13 from which at least a portion of the display pixels have been removed is sometimes referred to as a "pixel removal area". Each pixel removal area may still have pixels, but only have a lower density of sub-pixels. Removing display pixels in the pixel-free area (e.g., removing transistors and / or capacitors associated with one or more sub-pixels) can greatly help increase transmission and improve the performance of the sensor 13 below the display. Therefore, the pixel removal area may have a first sub-pixel density, while the rest of the display (generally collectively referred to as the active area) may exhibit a second ("natural") sub-pixel density that is greater than the first sub-pixel density. The natural sub-pixel density of the active area may be at least two times, three times, four times, 1 to 5 times, or 1 to 10 times the sub-pixel density of the pixel removal area.

[0063] Figures 4A to 4D is a top view showing various pixel removal areas for improving optical transmission according to some embodiments. As an example, display 14 may generally include a repeating pixel group 400 including a red (R) sub-pixel, a green (G) sub-pixel, and a blue (B) sub-pixel. Figure 4A As shown, each pixel group 400 may include two rows of color sub-pixels, wherein the top row includes BGRG sub-pixels in that order, and wherein the bottom row includes RGBG sub-pixels in that order. This particular pattern is merely illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the present invention. If desired, display patterns of other colors may be implemented in display 14, and the display may include sub-pixels of other colors (e.g., cyan sub-pixels, magenta sub-pixels, yellow sub-pixels, transparent sub-pixels, etc.).

[0064] exist Figure 4AIn the example, every other pixel group 400 has been removed based on the checkerboard pattern. The dithered area shows where the sub-pixels would be if the removal scheme were not implemented, but now there is at least partially no thin-film transistor circuitry corresponding to the display sub-pixels that have been removed. Each individual dithered area can be referred to as a non-pixel area, a no-pixel area, or a pixel-missing area. This type of pixel removal scheme can remove up to 50% of all available display sub-pixels.

[0065] In Figure 4A each non-pixel area represents eight removed sub-pixels. Figure 4B shows another pixel removal scheme, where each dithered non-pixel area represents 12 removed sub-pixels in another checkerboard pattern. This type of pixel removal scheme can also remove up to 50% of all available display sub-pixels. Figure 4C shows yet another pixel removal scheme, where some dithered no-pixel areas represent four removed sub-pixels, while other dithered no-pixel areas represent only two removed sub-pixels in a repeating mosaic pattern. This type of pixel removal scheme can also remove up to 50% of all available display sub-pixels. Figure 4D shows yet another pixel removal scheme in each dithered pixel-missing area, where each dithered pixel-missing area represents 12 removed sub-pixels while removing more than 50% of all available display sub-pixels from the entire pixel removal area.

[0066] Generally, the amount of pixel removal in the pixel removal area should be carefully selected to maximize the light transmittance through the display stack while ensuring that the pixels per inch (PPI) is still high enough so that the user of device 10 will not be able to visually notice any undesirable display artifacts near the pixel removal area where the sensor 13 may be located. Figures 4A to 4DThe exemplary pixel removal regions are merely illustrative. If desired, other pixel removal arrangements may be implemented, in which up to 10% of the display sub-pixels have been removed in the pixel removal region, up to 20% of the display sub-pixels have been removed, up to 30% of the display sub-pixels have been removed, up to 40% of the display sub-pixels have been removed, up to 50% of the display sub-pixels have been removed (i.e., the sub-pixel density of the pixel removal region may be half of the sub-pixel density of the native active region), from 0 to 50% of the display sub-pixels have been removed, from 10% to 50% of the display sub-pixels have been removed, from 20% to 50% of the display sub-pixels have been removed, from 30% to 50% of the display sub-pixels have been removed, from 51% to 90% of the display sub-pixels have been removed, or more than 50% of the display sub-pixels have been removed (i.e., the sub-pixel density of the pixel removal region may be less than half of the sub-pixel density of the native active region) to achieve a desired level of optical transmittance through the display stack.

[0067] Figures 4A to 4D The exemplary pixel removal scheme shown in the embodiment of may not provide a uniform sub-pixel distribution in all directions on the surface of the display 14. To provide a uniform sub-pixel distribution on the display surface, an intelligent pixel removal process may be implemented that systematically eliminates the nearest sub-pixels of the same color (e.g., the nearest neighbors of the same color may be removed). Figure 5A is a top layout diagram showing how red sub-pixels may be systematically removed according to one embodiment. Figure 5A The blue sub-pixels and green sub-pixels are omitted to help avoid obscuring the embodiments of the present invention.

[0068] As Figure 5A shown, the display 14 may be initially set with an array of red sub-pixels 22R. The pixel removal process may involve selecting a given sub-pixel, identifying the nearest or closest adjacent sub-pixels (based on the distance from the selected sub-pixel), and then eliminating / omitting those identified sub-pixels in the final pixel removal region. For example, sub-pixel 22R-1 may represent the first selected sub-pixel. Then, the two closest sub-pixels may be marked for elimination (as shown by the marks "X"). Sub-pixel 22R-2 may represent the second selected sub-pixel. The four closest sub-pixels (the four closest sub-pixels include the two previously marked sub-pixels) may be marked for elimination. The pixel removal process may be performed on the entire display pixel array for all colors of sub-pixels.

[0069] Figure 5A shows the sub-pixel array obtained after one iteration of pixel removal. If desired, additional iterations of sub-pixel removal may be performed, thereby further increasing the transmittance at the cost of a lower pixel density. Figure 5BShows a sub-pixel array obtained after another iteration of pixel removal (e.g., by eliminating the second-order results of the closest neighboring sub-pixels again). Any appropriate number of iterations can be performed if needed. Systematically removing sub-pixels in this way can provide a uniform color balance while maintaining a high PPI.

[0070] Figure 6A Shows how a process of the type described in conjunction with Figure 5A can be used to remove sub-pixels of various colors. As Figure 6A shown, each pixel group 600 can include two rows of color sub-pixels, where the top row includes RGBG sub-pixels in that order, and where the bottom row includes BGRG sub-pixels in that order. In particular, in each pixel group 600, the red sub-pixel, the green sub-pixel, and the first green sub-pixel can be removed from the first row, while only the second green sub-pixel is removed from the second row. The final arrangement of the pixel removal regions achieved using this method is shown in Figure 6B . As Figure 6B shown, some stippled pixel missing regions represent three consecutive removed sub-pixels, while other pixel missing regions represent only one removed sub-pixel. This type of pixel removal scheme can also remove 50% of all available display sub-pixels in the pixel removal region (e.g., the pixel density of the pixel removal region can be half of the natural pixel density of the effective region).

[0071] Figure 6C Shows another suitable arrangement where additional blue sub-pixels are removed from the Figure 6A configuration. As Figure 6CAs shown, every other pixel group 600 will have all blue sub-pixels removed. In other words, more blue sub-pixels can be removed or omitted relative to green or red sub-pixels (i.e., in the pixel removal region, the density of blue sub-pixels is lower than that of red sub-pixels). This example of non-uniform sub-pixel removal / omission targeting blue sub-pixels is merely illustrative and not intended to limit the present embodiment. If desired, more green sub-pixels can be omitted relative to blue / red sub-pixels, more red sub-pixels can be omitted relative to blue / green sub-pixels, or other non-uniform sub-pixel removal schemes can be implemented. In other suitable embodiments, the degree of omission of all different color sub-pixels can vary, which will affect the density of each sub-pixel. As an example, more blue sub-pixels can be removed than green sub-pixels, and more green sub-pixels can be removed than red sub-pixels (i.e., blue sub-pixels have the highest removal rate and thus the lowest sub-pixel density, while red sub-pixels have the lowest removal rate). As another example, more blue sub-pixels can be removed than red sub-pixels, and more red sub-pixels can be removed than green sub-pixels (i.e., blue sub-pixels have the highest removal rate, while green sub-pixels have the lowest removal rate and thus the highest sub-pixel density). As yet another example, more green sub-pixels can be removed than blue sub-pixels, and more blue sub-pixels can be removed than red sub-pixels (i.e., green sub-pixels have the highest omission rate, while red sub-pixels have the lowest omission rate). Other arrangements can also be implemented.

[0072] Figure 6B The example of is merely illustrative, where each individual sub-pixel is shown as a rectangular region having edges parallel to the display edge. If desired, each sub-pixel region can have edges angled or rotated relative to the display edge (e.g., see Figure 6D ). In Figure 6D , the display edge can be parallel to the X-axis or Y-axis. The front of the display can be parallel to the XY plane such that a user of the device views the front of the display in the Z direction. Figure 6D Portion 610 of Figure 6D shows the natural sub-pixel arrangement before removal. Portion 612 shows how every other sub-pixel is removed for each color - the sub-pixels removed are marked with an "X"). Portion 614 shows the final pixel configuration with 50% of the sub-pixels removed.

[0073] In Figure 6D 's example, sub-pixels are removed such that there are horizontal stripes of empty pixel regions (e.g., see the continuous stripe region 615 without sub-pixels in portion 614). This is merely illustrative. If desired, sub-pixels can also be removed to produce vertical stripes of empty pixel regions (e.g., see Figure 6E having a continuous stripe region 617 without sub-pixels).

[0074] As described above in connection with Figure 5B it, multiple iterations of pixel removal can be performed. Figure 6F is an illustration of the pixel arrangement after two iterations of pixel removal. Compared with the configuration in section 614 of Figure 6D the configuration of Figure 6F has an even smaller sub-pixel density (e.g., by eliminating the closest neighboring sub-pixels again, the second-order result may have only half the number of sub-pixels compared to the first-order result). In other words, after two iterations of pixel removal, 75% of the original native sub-pixels can be removed. Any appropriate number of iterations can be implemented if desired. Systematically removing sub-pixels in this way can provide a uniform color balance while maintaining a high PPI.

[0075] As described above in connection with Figure 6C it, non-uniform sub-pixel omission can be achieved. Figure 6G is a diagram of a pixel arrangement in which more green sub-pixels have been removed (e.g., a second round of removal can be performed only on the green sub-pixels). Compared with the configuration in section 614 of Figure 6D the configuration of Figure 6G has the same number of blue sub-pixels and red sub-pixels, but only half the number of green sub-pixels remain. Since the native pixel group has two green sub-pixels for each pair of red and blue sub-pixels, eliminating the closest green neighbors twice can help balance the total number of green, red, and blue sub-pixels (e.g., the total number of remaining red, green, and blue sub-pixels can be the same). In other words, in the pixel removal area, the density of blue sub-pixels is equal to the density of blue sub-pixels and is equal to the density of red sub-pixels. If desired, the remaining green sub-pixels can optionally be enlarged in size to help compensate for the reduction in quantity.

[0076] Figure 6D The native RGBG / BGRG sub-pixel arrangement shown in section 610 of Figure 6H is sometimes referred to as having a "pentile" arrangement. If desired, the exemplary pixel removal schemes described herein can also be applied to non-pentile or straight pixel arrangements. Figure 6H is an illustration of a non-pentile pixel arrangement after pixel removal. As

[0077] shown, the number of remaining blue sub-pixels, red sub-pixels, and green sub-pixels is the same, but the size of the blue sub-pixel area can be larger than the size of the green sub-pixel area, and the size of the green sub-pixel area can be larger than the size of the red sub-pixel area. This is merely illustrative. Generally, the size of the sub-pixel areas of different colors can be adjusted to obtain optimal display performance. Figures 7A to 7Fis a front view showing how a display 14 according to certain embodiments can have one or more local regions where pixels are selectively removed using the scenarios of FIGS. 4 - 6. Figure 7A Examples of Figure 7A show individual local pixel removal regions 700 that are physically separated from each other (i.e., the individual pixel removal regions 700 are discontinuous). The term "active region" can refer to the region of the display 14 that is outside and does not overlap with the pixel removal regions. For example, each local region 700 can correspond to three different sensors formed under the display 14. Figure 7B Examples of Figure 7B show a continuous pixel removal region 702 formed along the top boundary of the display 14, which may be suitable when there are many optical sensors located near the top edge of the device 10. Figure 7C Examples of Figure 7C show pixel removal regions 704 formed at the corners of the display 14. In some arrangements, the corners of the display 14 where the pixel removal regions 704 are located can be rounded corners or have corners of approximately 90°. Figure 7D Examples of Figure 7D show pixel removal regions 706 formed only in the central portion along the top edge of the device 10 (i.e., the pixel removal regions cover the recessed notch region in the display). Figure 7E Shows another example where pixel removal regions 708 and pixel removal regions 710 can have different shapes and sizes. Figure 7F Shows yet another suitable example where the pixel removal regions cover the entire display surface. These examples are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present invention. If desired, any one or more portions of the display that overlap with optically - based sensors or other sub - display electrical components can be designated as pixel removal regions / zones.

[0078] In yet another suitable arrangement, pixel removal regions can be formed at the curved edge portions of the display. Figure 7G is a cross - sectional side view of the display 14 showing a curved or bent peripheral edge region 20. User 750 can view the front of the display 14 by looking in the direction of arrow 752 parallel to the Z - direction. The front of the display 14 is parallel to the XY - plane. As Figure 7G shown, pixel removal regions 714 can be formed in the curved edge portion 20. Generally, one or more edges of the device can be curved or bent, and one or more pixel removal regions can optionally be formed in each curved edge portion.

[0079] Figure 8A is showing according to Figure 6A and Figure 6BTop layout view of how the pixel removal scheme shown can selectively remove some sub-pixels from pixel group 600 to increase transmittance. The areas marked "sub-pixels removed" correspond to pixel-less areas that are completely devoid of thin film transistors and capacitors, which would be present if these sub-pixels were not removed. Removing the thin film transistor structures, which may include active silicon or other semiconductor materials, associated source-drain contacts, and thin film capacitor terminals, can help improve the light transmittance through the display stack in the pixel-less areas.

[0080] As Figure 8A shown, the red sub-pixels, green sub-pixels, and blue sub-pixels have been removed from the upper part of pixel group 600, while only the rightmost green sub-pixel has been removed from the lower part of pixel group 600. Figure 8A Also shown are various gate (G) lines (e.g., horizontal control lines or row control lines) and data (D) lines (e.g., vertical control lines or column control lines) routed over the thin film transistors associated with each display sub-pixel. Additionally, a power line carrying the power voltage ELVDD may also be routed in the vertical column direction. If desired, the power line may also or alternatively be routed horizontally or diagonally across the surface of the display.

[0081] If desired, Figure 8A the pixel structure can optionally be rotated or angled relative to the display edges parallel to the X-axis or Y-axis. As an example, Figure 8A the pixel arrangement can be rotated 45° relative to the X-axis. If desired, the pixel structure can be rotated by other suitable angles (e.g., 30°, 60°, 90°, 1 to 89°, etc.).

[0082] In Figure 8A the example, the power line (e.g., see the wider vertical routing trace) is still routed over the non-pixel area, which helps reduce the overall optical transmittance. According to Figure 8B another suitable arrangement illustrated in Figure 8B the power line can be selectively removed or omitted from non-pixel areas such as area 850 and area 851 (e.g., from each area where sub-pixels should be removed). As Figure 8BIn the example of, there are still horizontal gate lines and vertical data lines routed on non-pixel regions 850 and 851, which may contribute to the diffraction of light passing through these regions. In some embodiments, these conductive traces can be re-routed to provide a larger continuous opening in the non-pixel region (see, for example, Figure 8C ). As shown in Figure 8C , the gate line G' and the data line D' can be routed in a more circuitous manner to obtain a larger opening area. Routing the control signals in this way reduces diffraction, but at the cost of reduced transmission.

[0083] In Figure 8A and Figure 8B , the diamond-shaped regions correspond to the OLEDs of each color sub-pixel. In Figure 8B , thin-film transistors associated with the blue sub-pixel, the green sub-pixel, and the red sub-pixel can be formed in the region 856 overlapping with the corresponding OLED, while the thin-film transistor associated with the green sub-pixel on the right can be formed in the region 858. Since the TFT regions 856 and 858 are not continuous with each other, the non-pixel regions 850 and 851 are also not continuous with each other.

[0084] Figure 8D shows another suitable arrangement, in which the thin-film transistor associated with a separate green sub-pixel (i.e., the upper-right green sub-pixel in the pixel group 600) is shifted or repositioned into the region 851, such that the pixel group 600 can have a continuous non-pixel region 860. The OLED of the green sub-pixel can remain unchanged. In other words, all the TFT structures are formed in the row region 862, and the row region 860 can be substantially free of TFT structures to help obtain a larger continuous opening, thereby improving the transmittance.

[0085] The amount of current flowing through the driving transistor (e.g., the transistor Tdrive in Figure 2B ) can be relatively high for the remaining sub-pixels within the pixel removal region. To help mitigate the potential aging effects associated with high drive current levels, the size of the remaining sub-pixels can be increased (e.g., the size of the OLED and / or some associated transistors can be increased). In the example of Figure 8E , the OLEDs of the remaining blue sub-pixels B', green sub-pixels G', and red sub-pixels R' can be relatively large compared to the OLEDs in other parts of the display with a natural sub-pixel density (i.e., relative to the display pixels in the normal active region). Increasing the OLED can reduce the current density, which helps extend the life of the diode. If the pixel transistors are magnified, transistors such as the driving transistor can have their width increased and / or their gate length decreased to help mitigate any potential accelerated aging effects caused by high drive current levels.

[0086] Figure 8F shows another suitable arrangement, showing how an opaque mask such as mask 870 can be used to define an aperture opening. The mask 870 can be formed using an existing metal wiring layer, a pixel defining layer (e.g., a black pixel defining layer), and / or other suitable opaque layers. As Figure 8F shown, the opaque mask 870 can have openings, such as openings 872 that are aligned with corresponding pixel-less regions (i.e., continuous regions where sub-pixels have been removed below). Generally, the openings 872 can have a predetermined shape (e.g., a rectangular window, a circular window, an oval window, an elliptical window, etc.), which is configured to help control the diffraction pattern of light passing through the opening.

[0087] In addition to the thin-film transistor structure, touch-based circuits such as touch sensor traces within the touch layer 316 ( Figure 3 ) can also significantly contribute to the low transmission through the display stack. Figure 9A is a top layout view showing an exemplary touch conductive grid circuit 900 formed over a pixel removal region according to an embodiment. As Figure 9A shown, the touch grid 900 is not removed (i.e., the touch grid 900 completely overlaps the pixel removal region), so the touch function is not reduced. At the other extreme, all of the touch grid 900 can be removed from the entire pixel removal region (i.e., the touch grid and the pixel removal region are non-overlapping), which provides the highest optical transmission while sacrificing the loss of touch function in the pixel removal region. However, completely removing the grid 900 can result in a significant difference in contrast between the pixel removal region and the surrounding normal display region. For example, a pixel removal region where the touch grid 900 is completely eliminated may appear more reflective than the surrounding regions, which may or may not be acceptable.

[0088] Figure 9B is a top layout view showing how the touch conductive grid circuit 900' can be partially removed over the pixel removal region according to another suitable arrangement. As Figure 9B shown, the touch grid 900' can be present on the actual display sub-pixels, but may not be present on the pixel-less regions where the sub-pixels have been intelligently removed. This partial removal of the touch circuit in the pixel removal region can provide improved optical transmittance while providing partial touch function and reduced contrast between the pixel removal region and the surrounding regions.

[0089] Figure 10Ais a top layout view according to an embodiment, showing how a pixel-less region (e.g., region 1000) where sub-pixel transistors have been removed lacks virtual contacts. The complete absence of virtual contacts in region 1000 helps to maximize light transmittance because the presence of virtual contacts can still block a certain amount of light. According to another suitable arrangement, the non-pixel region 1000 may actually include some virtual contacts even though the underlying transistors have been removed. Although the presence of virtual contacts slightly reduces the transmittance, including virtual contacts (which can be formed of polysilicon material) helps to provide better polysilicon uniformity during manufacturing.

[0090] Polysilicon uniformity can affect transistor current distribution, as Figure 10C shown. Figure 10C is a graph of emission current (I) versus gate-source voltage (Vgs). Curve 1002 may represent the current distribution of an active p-channel transistor adjacent to Figure 10A the region 1000 in Figure 10B while curve 1004 may represent the current distribution of an active p-channel transistor adjacent to

[0091] Figure 11 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary display stack, showing how at least some of the cover layers within the display stack can be selectively patterned to further improve optical transmittance. Figure 11 Similar to Figure 3 a cross-section, but extended over the TFT layer 304. For example, Figure 11 shows how the TFT layer 304 may include a TFT gate dielectric layer 1100, an inorganic passivation layer 1102 formed on the TFT gate dielectric layer 1100, one or more organic planarization layers 1104 formed on the inorganic passivation layer 1102, and an organic pixel definition layer 1106 formed on the organic planarization layer 1104. Additionally, a protective layer such as a substrate inorganic protection film 303 may be formed between the substrate 302 and the TFT layer 304. In certain embodiments, at least layers 303, 1100, 1102, and / or 1106 (which are generally cover layers that cover the entire display surface) may be selectively patterned or thinned in the pixel removal region to further increase optical transmittance. If desired, other cover display layers may also be selectively patterned / thinned to help increase the transmittance of light through the display stack.

[0092] According to one embodiment, an electronic device is provided that includes a display and a sensor located below the display. The display has pixels formed in an active area, and the display includes a pixel removal area that at least partially overlaps with the sensor. The active area has a first pixel density, and the pixel removal area has a second pixel density that is less than the first pixel density.

[0093] According to another embodiment, the pixel removal area includes a plurality of pixel-less areas. Each pixel-less area of the plurality of pixel-less areas does not have a thin film transistor, and the plurality of pixel-less areas are configured to increase the signal transmittance through the display to the sensor.

[0094] According to another embodiment, each pixel-less area of the plurality of pixel-less areas also does not have a power line.

[0095] According to another embodiment, the horizontal control lines and vertical control lines in the plurality of pixel-less areas are re-wired to provide a continuous open area, and the continuous open area reduces the amount of diffraction of light passing through the display to the sensor.

[0096] According to another embodiment, each pixel-less area of the plurality of pixel-less areas includes multiple rows of continuous open areas within the pixel removal area.

[0097] According to another embodiment, the electronic device includes an opaque mask having an opening aligned with the plurality of pixel-less areas.

[0098] According to another embodiment, the second pixel density is half of the first pixel density.

[0099] According to another embodiment, the second pixel density is less than half of the first pixel density.

[0100] According to another embodiment, the display includes an additional pixel removal area that is physically separated from the pixel removal area.

[0101] According to another embodiment, the additional pixel removal area has a different size from the pixel removal area.

[0102] According to another embodiment, the pixel removal area overlaps with the entire edge of the display.

[0103] According to another embodiment, the pixel removal area overlaps with the corner of the display.

[0104] According to another embodiment, the pixel removal area overlaps with the curved edge of the display.

[0105] According to another embodiment, the pixel removal area overlaps with the sunken notch area in the display.

[0106] According to another embodiment, the pixel removal region overlaps the entire surface of the display.

[0107] According to another embodiment, the pixel removal region includes a first sub-pixel of a first color and a second sub-pixel of a second color, and in the pixel removal region, the density of the first sub-pixel is different from the density of the second sub-pixel.

[0108] According to another embodiment, the pixel removal region includes a blue sub-pixel and a red sub-pixel, and in the pixel removal region, the density of the blue sub-pixel is lower than the density of the red sub-pixel.

[0109] According to another embodiment, the pixel removal region includes a green sub-pixel, a blue sub-pixel, and a red sub-pixel, and in the pixel removal region, the density of the blue sub-pixel is equal to the density of the blue sub-pixel and equal to the density of the red sub-pixel.

[0110] According to another embodiment, the pixels in the active region include a first sub-pixel, and the pixel removal region includes a second sub-pixel, and the second sub-pixel has a larger diode than the first sub-pixel in the active region to mitigate aging.

[0111] According to another embodiment, the electronic device includes a conductive touch sensor grid formed above the display, and the conductive touch sensor overlaps the pixel removal region.

[0112] According to another embodiment, the electronic device includes a conductive touch sensor grid formed above the display, and the conductive touch sensor grid does not overlap the pixel removal region.

[0113] According to another embodiment, the pixel removal region includes a plurality of pixel-less regions, and each of the plurality of pixel-less regions lacks a virtual contact.

[0114] According to another embodiment, the pixel removal region includes a plurality of pixel-less regions, and each of the plurality of pixel-less regions includes a virtual contact configured to provide emission current uniformity in the pixel removal region.

[0115] According to another embodiment, the display includes a cover layer, and the cover layer is selectively patterned in the pixel removal region to increase the transmittance of light through the display to the sensor, and the cover layer is a display layer selected from the group consisting of a substrate protection layer, a gate dielectric layer, an inorganic passivation layer, and an organic pixel defining layer.

[0116] According to one embodiment, a display is provided that includes pixels formed in an active area and pixels formed in a given area within the active area, the pixels in the active area being formed at a first pixel density and the pixels in the given area being formed at a second pixel density that is less than the first pixel density to increase the transmittance of light through the given area.

[0117] According to one embodiment, a device is provided that includes a display stack having a plurality of overlay display layers and an optical sensor at least partially covered by the display stack, with at least some of the overlay display layers being patterned to increase the light transmittance through the display stack to the optical sensor.

[0118] The foregoing is merely illustrative, and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and essence of the embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented independently or in any combination.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising: a display having pixels formed in an active area; and a sensor located under the display, wherein: the display includes a pixel removal area that at least partially overlaps with the sensor; the active area has a first pixel density; the pixel removal area has a second pixel density that is less than the first pixel density; the pixels in the active area include first sub-pixels; and the pixel removal area includes second sub-pixels, and the second sub-pixels have larger diodes than the first sub-pixels in the active area.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, the pixel removal area includes a plurality of pixel-less areas, and each pixel-less area of the plurality of pixel-less areas does not have a thin film transistor, and wherein the plurality of pixel-less areas are configured to increase the signal transmittance through the display to the sensor.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein, each pixel-less area of the plurality of pixel-less areas also does not have a power line.

4. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein, the horizontal control lines and vertical control lines in the plurality of pixel-less areas are re-wired to provide a continuous open area, and the continuous open area reduces the amount of light diffraction through the display to the sensor.

5. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein, each pixel-less area of the plurality of pixel-less areas includes a plurality of rows of continuous open areas within the pixel removal area.

6. The electronic device according to claim 2, and the electronic device further comprises: an opaque mask having openings aligned with the plurality of pixel-less areas.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, the second pixel density is half of the first pixel density.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, the second pixel density is less than half of the first pixel density.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, the display includes an additional pixel removal area that is physically separated from the pixel removal area.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, the pixel removal area includes first sub-pixels of a first color and second sub-pixels of a second color, and wherein, in the pixel removal area, the density of the first sub-pixels is different from the density of the second sub-pixels.

11. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, the pixel removal area includes blue sub-pixels and red sub-pixels, and wherein, in the pixel removal area, the density of the blue sub-pixels is lower than the density of the red sub-pixels.

12. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, the pixel removal area includes green sub-pixels, blue sub-pixels and red sub-pixels, and wherein, in the pixel removal area, the density of the blue sub-pixels is equal to the density of the blue sub-pixels and equal to the density of the red sub-pixels.

13. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the second sub-pixel in the pixel removal region includes a blue sub-pixel of a first size and a green sub-pixel of a second size, and the second size is smaller than the first size.

14. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising: a conductive touch sensor grid formed over the display, wherein the conductive touch sensor overlaps with the pixel removal region.

15. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising: a conductive touch sensor grid formed over the display, wherein the conductive touch sensor grid does not overlap with the pixel removal region.

16. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, the pixel removal region includes a plurality of pixel-less regions, and each pixel-less region in the plurality of pixel-less regions lacks a virtual contact.

17. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, the pixel removal region includes a plurality of pixel-less regions, and each pixel-less region in the plurality of pixel-less regions includes a virtual contact.

18. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, the display includes a cover layer, and the cover layer is selectively patterned in the pixel removal region to increase the transmittance of light passing through the display to the sensor, and wherein the cover layer is a display layer selected from the group consisting of a substrate protection layer, a gate dielectric layer, an inorganic passivation layer, and an organic pixel definition layer.

Images