Display device

Abstract

This invention discloses a display device comprising a backlight module, a display panel, a camera module, and an electrically controlled diffusion layer. The backlight module has a light-emitting surface. The display panel is disposed on one side of the light-emitting surface of the backlight module and has a display area. The camera module is overlapped with the display area and located on the side of the backlight module facing away from the display panel. The electrically controlled diffusion layer is disposed between the camera module and the display panel and overlaps the light-receiving surface of the camera module.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a display device, and more particularly to a display device having a camera module. Background Technology

[0002] To improve screen-to-body ratio and achieve a narrow bezel design, a display device with a camera module positioned below the display screen has been proposed. When the display screen is a non-self-emissive display panel (such as a liquid crystal display panel), a backlight module is required as the illumination source. However, backlight modules typically incorporate optical microstructures in their structure to adjust the light path, depending on different light emission requirements. Therefore, the optical microstructures overlapping with the camera module can also affect the light-gathering quality of the camera module when capturing images. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention provides a display device in which the camera module below the display panel has better image reception quality.

[0004] The display device of the present invention includes a backlight module, a display panel, a camera module, and an electrically controlled diffusion layer. The backlight module has a light-emitting surface. The display panel is disposed on one side of the light-emitting surface of the backlight module and has a display area. The camera module is overlapped with the display area and located on the side of the backlight module facing away from the display panel. The electrically controlled diffusion layer is disposed between the camera module and the display panel and overlaps the light-receiving surface of the camera module.

[0005] Based on the above, in a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, a camera module disposed on the side of the backlight module facing away from the display panel is used to receive external images from the side of the display panel. By providing an electrically controlled diffusion layer between the camera module and the display panel, the camera module can have good image reception quality when receiving images and better concealment when turned off. Attached Figure Description

[0006] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0007] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0008] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Symbol Explanation

[0012] 10, 11, 12, 13, 20: Display devices

[0013] 100, 100A, 100B: Backlight Module

[0014] 110: Light guide plate

[0015] 110bs: Bottom surface

[0016] 110es, 180es: Light-emitting surface

[0017] 110is, 110is”: Light-receiving surface

[0018] 115: Optical Microstructure

[0019] 121, 122: Light source

[0020] 150: Optical film

[0021] 160: Carrier plate

[0022] 160s: Surface

[0023] 180: Light-emitting element

[0024] 200: Display panel

[0025] 300: Camera Module

[0026] 300rs: Finished surface

[0027] 350, 350”: Optical auxiliary layer

[0028] 400, 400”: Electrically controlled diffusion layer

[0029] DA: Display area

[0030] S1, S2: Spacing

[0031] Z: Direction Detailed Implementation

[0032] As used herein, “about,” “approximately,” “essentially,” or “substantially” includes the value and the average value within an acceptable range of deviations from a particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, taking into account the measurement in question and a particular number of errors associated with the measurement (i.e., limitations of the measurement system). For example, “about” may mean within one or more standard deviations of the value, or, for example, within ±30%, ±20%, ±15%, ±10%, ±5%. Furthermore, the use of “about,” “approximately,” “essentially,” or “substantially” herein may be chosen to select a more acceptable range of deviations or standard deviations depending on the nature of the measurement, the cutting nature, or other properties, and a single standard deviation may not be applicable to all properties.

[0033] In the accompanying drawings, the thicknesses of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are enlarged for clarity. It should be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being "on" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly on or connected to the other element, or intermediate elements may also be present. Conversely, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" or "directly connected" to another element, no intermediate elements are present. As used herein, "connection" can refer to a physical and / or electrical connection. Furthermore, an "electrical connection" may involve the presence of other elements between the two elements.

[0034] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same element references are used in the drawings and description to denote the same or similar parts.

[0035] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to... Figure 1 The display device 10 includes a backlight module 100, a display panel 200, and a camera module 300. In this embodiment, the backlight module 100 includes, for example, a light guide plate 110 and a light source 121. The light guide plate 110 has a light incident surface 110is and a light emitting surface 110es and a bottom surface 110bs connected to and opposite to the light incident surface 110is. The light source 121 is disposed on one side of the light incident surface 110is of the light guide plate 110. In this embodiment, the light emitting surface of the backlight module 100 can be defined by the light emitting surface 110es of the light guide plate 110.

[0036] The display panel 200 is disposed on one side of the light-emitting surface 110es (i.e., the light-emitting surface of the backlight module 100) of the light guide plate 110, and a display area DA is provided on one side of the display surface. In this embodiment, the display panel 200 is, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or other suitable non-self-emissive display panel.

[0037] The camera module 300 is disposed overlapping the display area DA of the display panel 200 along the normal direction (e.g., direction Z) of the light-emitting surface 110es, and is located on the side of the backlight module 100 facing away from the display panel 200. The camera module 300 has a light-receiving surface 300rs facing the display panel 200, and is adapted to receive light from one side of the display surface and passing through the display panel 200. In other words, the display device 10 is a display device with under-display photography function.

[0038] Furthermore, the display device 10 also includes an electrically controlled diffusion layer 400 disposed between the camera module 300 and the display panel 200, and overlapping the light-receiving surface 300rs of the camera module 300 along direction Z. In this embodiment, the electrically controlled diffusion layer 400 includes, for example, a polymer dispersed liquid crystal film (PDLC film), and is adapted to be electrically switched between a transparent state and a scattering state. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the electrically controlled diffusion layer 400 may also include a polymer network liquid crystal film (PNLC film).

[0039] For example, when the camera module 300 is receiving image light, the electrically controlled diffusion layer 400 can operate in the transparent state, enabling the camera module 300 to have good image reception quality. When the camera module 300 is off, the electrically controlled diffusion layer 400 can switch to the scattering state to effectively reduce the visibility of the camera module 300 on the display surface side. In other words, it can improve the concealment of the camera module 300 on the display surface side.

[0040] In this embodiment, a plurality of optical microstructures 115 are also provided on the bottom surface 110bs of the light guide plate 110, and these optical microstructures 115 are adapted to guide the light from the light source 121 that is laterally transmitted within the light guide plate 110 to the light receiving surface 110es and out of the light guide plate 110. It is particularly noteworthy that, in order to avoid affecting the light receiving quality of the camera module 300, these optical microstructures 115 do not overlap with the light receiving surface 300rs of the camera module 300 along the normal direction (e.g., direction Z) of the bottom surface 110bs of the light guide plate 110.

[0041] To meet different light emission requirements, the backlight module 100 may further include at least one optical film 150. The optical film 150 overlaps the display area DA of the display panel 200 along the normal direction (e.g., direction Z) of the light-emitting surface 110es of the light guide plate 110. The optical film 150 may be, for example, a brightness enhancement film (BEF), a diffuser, or a combination thereof. Notably, the optical film 150 does not overlap the light-receiving surface 300rs of the camera module 300 along direction Z. Therefore, the light-receiving quality of the camera module 300 can be ensured.

[0042] The following are some other embodiments to illustrate the present invention in detail, wherein the same components will be marked with the same symbols, and the description of the same technical content will be omitted. For the omitted parts, please refer to the foregoing embodiments, and they will not be repeated below.

[0043] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to... Figure 2 Compared to Figure 1 The display device 11 of this embodiment may further include an optical auxiliary layer 350. The optical auxiliary layer 350 connects the light-emitting surface 110es of the light guide plate 110 and the electrically controlled diffusion layer 400, and does not overlap with the plurality of optical microstructures 115 along the normal direction of the light-emitting surface 110es.

[0044] In this embodiment, the optical auxiliary layer 350 can be made of cellulose triacetate (TAC), optically clear adhesive (OCA), or other optical-grade materials with a refractive index similar to that of the light guide plate 110. Specifically, since no optical microstructures 115 are provided on the bottom surface 110bs of the light guide plate 110 in the region overlapping the light-receiving surface 300rs of the camera module 300, by providing the optical auxiliary layer 350 on the light-emitting surface 110es of the light guide plate 110 in this region, total internal reflection of the light transmitted within the light guide plate 110 at the light-emitting surface 110es in this region can be prevented. Accordingly, the light extraction efficiency of the light guide plate 110 in the portion without optical microstructures 115 (i.e., the portion overlapping the camera module 300) can be improved.

[0045] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to... Figure 3 The display device 12 in this embodiment and Figure 2The only difference between the display device 11 and the display device 12 is the number of light sources in the backlight module. Specifically, in this embodiment, the backlight module 100A of the display device 12 may also selectively include another light source 122 (i.e., a second light source), and this light source 122 is disposed on the side of the light guide plate 110 away from the light source 121 (i.e., the first light source). In detail, the light guide plate 110 also has another light incident surface 110is” connecting the light emitting surface 110es and the bottom surface 110bs and opposite to the light incident surface 110is, and the light source 122 is disposed on one side of the light incident surface 110is” of the light guide plate 110.

[0046] It should be noted that by setting another light source 122 on the other light-incident surface 110is” of the light guide plate 110 adjacent to the camera module 300, the amount of light emitted by the light guide plate 110 in the area overlapping the camera module 300 can be further increased, which helps to improve the light emission uniformity of the light guide plate 110.

[0047] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to... Figure 4 The display device 13 in this embodiment and Figure 2 The difference in display device 11 lies in the different number of optical auxiliary layers and electronically controlled diffusion layers.

[0048] Compared to Figure 2 The display device 13 of this embodiment further includes another electrically controlled diffusion layer 400” and another optical auxiliary layer 350”. For example, another electrically controlled diffusion layer 400” and another optical auxiliary layer 350” may be disposed on the bottom surface 110bs of the light guide plate 110 where it overlaps with the camera module 300, and the optical auxiliary layer 350” connects the bottom surface 110bs of the light guide plate 110 and the electrically controlled diffusion layer 400”. Similar to the electrically controlled diffusion layer 400”, the electrically controlled diffusion layer 400” also overlaps the light receiving surface 300rs of the camera module 300 along the Z direction.

[0049] By setting another electronically controlled diffusion layer 400", the concealment of the camera module 300 on the display side of the display panel 200 can be further improved.

[0050] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to... Figure 5 The display device 20 in this embodiment and Figure 1 The difference in display device 10 lies in the type of backlight module. Specifically, unlike... Figure 1 The backlight module 100 is a side-lit backlight module, and the backlight module 100B in this embodiment can also be a direct-lit backlight module.

[0051] For example, the backlight module 100B may include a carrier plate 160 and a plurality of light-emitting elements 180. The carrier plate 160 has a surface 160s facing the display panel 200, and the light-emitting elements 180 are disposed on the surface 160s of the carrier plate 160. Each of the light-emitting elements 180 has a light-emitting surface 180es facing the display panel 200, and these light-emitting surfaces 180es define the light-emitting surface of the backlight module 100B.

[0052] It is particularly noteworthy that some of the light-emitting elements 180 overlap the light-receiving surface 300rs of the camera module 300 along the normal direction (e.g., direction Z) of the surface 160s. To reduce the impact of the light-emitting elements 180 on the light-receiving effect of the camera module 300, the density of the light-emitting elements 180 in the area overlapping the camera module 300 can differ from the density in other areas. For example, any two adjacent light-emitting elements 180 in the area of ​​the carrier plate 160 that do not overlap with the camera module 300 have a spacing S1 along the arrangement direction, while adjacent two light-emitting elements 180 in the area of ​​the carrier plate 160 that overlap with the camera module 300 have a spacing S2 along the arrangement direction, and the spacing S2 can be greater than the spacing S1.

[0053] The light-emitting elements 180 arranged at a spacing S2 are also superimposed on the electrically controlled diffusion layer 400 along the Z direction, and the electrically controlled diffusion layer 400 is located between the light-emitting elements 180 and the display panel 200. In this embodiment, the optical film 150 is, for example, a diffuser sheet. In particular, when the camera module 300 is turned off, the electrically controlled diffusion layer 400, operating in a scattering state, can also increase the light emission uniformity of the backlight module 100B in the area superimposed on the camera module 300, and reduce the difference in light emission uniformity between the backlight module 100B and the area superimposed on the optical film 150.

[0054] In summary, in a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, a camera module disposed on the side of the backlight module facing away from the display panel is used to receive external images from the side of the display panel. By providing an electrically controlled diffusion layer between the camera module and the display panel, the camera module can have good image reception quality when receiving images and better concealment when turned off.

Claims

1.A display device, comprising: a backlight module having an out-coupling surface and comprising: a light guide plate having an in-coupling surface, and an out-coupling surface and a bottom surface connected to the in-coupling surface and opposite to each other; a first light source disposed on a side of the in-coupling surface of the light guide plate; and at least one optical film, wherein the at least one optical film comprises a brightness enhancement film or a diffuser sheet; a display panel disposed on a side of the out-coupling surface of the backlight module and having a display area; a camera module disposed overlapping the display area and on a side of the backlight module facing away from the display panel, the bottom surface of the light guide plate being located between the camera module and the out-coupling surface of the light guide plate, wherein the bottom surface of the light guide plate is provided with a plurality of optical microstructures; an electrically controlled diffusion layer disposed between the camera module and the display panel and overlapping a light-receiving surface of the camera module; an optical auxiliary layer connected to the out-coupling surface of the light guide plate and the electrically controlled diffusion layer, the optical auxiliary layer not overlapping the optical microstructures; another electrically controlled diffusion layer overlapping the camera module and the electrically controlled diffusion layer, the light guide plate being located between the electrically controlled diffusion layer and the other electrically controlled diffusion layer; and another optical auxiliary layer connected to the bottom surface of the light guide plate and the other electrically controlled diffusion layer, the optical auxiliary layer and the other optical auxiliary layer each comprising triacetate cellulose or optically transparent glue, wherein the optical microstructures do not overlap the electrically controlled diffusion layer, the other electrically controlled diffusion layer, the optical auxiliary layer, and the other optical auxiliary layer, the at least one optical film is disposed overlapping the display area of the display panel and does not overlap the light-receiving surface of the camera module, the electrically controlled diffusion layer, the other electrically controlled diffusion layer, the optical auxiliary layer, and the other optical auxiliary layer. 2.The display device of claim 1, wherein the light guide plate further has another in-coupling surface connected to the out-coupling surface and the bottom surface and opposite to the in-coupling surface, the backlight module further has a second light source disposed on a side of the other in-coupling surface of the light guide plate, and the camera module is disposed adjacent to the other in-coupling surface. 3.The display device of claim 1, wherein the electrically controlled diffusion layer comprises a polymer dispersed liquid crystal film.

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