Wide and narrow viewing angle switchable display panel, driving method, and display device

Abstract

The present invention discloses a display panel with switchable wide and narrow viewing angles, a driving method, and a display device. The display panel includes a color filter substrate, an array substrate, and a liquid crystal layer. The display panel has a plurality of pixel units distributed in an array, each pixel unit including a first sub-pixel unit and a second sub-pixel unit. The array substrate is provided with a common electrode and a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode that are insulated from each other. The first pixel electrode corresponds to the first sub-pixel unit, and the second pixel electrode corresponds to the second sub-pixel unit. The electrode strips of the first pixel electrode and the electrode strips of the second pixel electrode extend in different directions. The color filter substrate is provided with a viewing angle control electrode that cooperates with the common electrode, the first pixel electrode, and the second pixel electrode. Thus, in narrow viewing angle mode, the first sub-pixel unit achieves a narrow viewing angle effect with wide viewing angle light leakage, while the second sub-pixel unit achieves a narrow viewing angle effect with wide viewing angle light collection, thereby improving grayscale inversion at wide viewing angles.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of displays, and in particular to a display panel with switchable wide and narrow viewing angles, a driving method, and a display device. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous advancement of LCD technology, the viewing angle of displays has been widened from approximately 120° to over 160°. While people enjoy the visual experience brought by a wide viewing angle, they also want to effectively protect business secrets and personal privacy to avoid commercial losses or embarrassment caused by the leakage of screen information. Therefore, in addition to the demand for a wide viewing angle, many situations also require display devices to be able to switch between wide and narrow viewing angles.

[0003] Currently, the main method used is to attach a louver film to the display screen to achieve switching between wide and narrow viewing angles. When privacy protection is required, the screen can be covered with the louver film to narrow the viewing angle. However, this method requires additional louver film, which causes great inconvenience to the user. Moreover, a piece of louver film can only achieve one viewing angle. Once the louver film is attached, the viewing angle is fixed in the narrow viewing angle mode, making it impossible to switch freely between the wide and narrow viewing angle modes. In addition, the privacy film will reduce the brightness and affect the display effect.

[0004] Existing technologies also utilize viewing angle control electrodes on one side of a color filter (CF) substrate to apply a vertical electric field to the liquid crystal molecules, causing the liquid crystal to deflect vertically, thus achieving a narrow viewing angle mode. By controlling the voltage on the viewing angle control electrodes, it is possible to switch between wide and narrow viewing angles. However, the narrow viewing angles of such display panels are less than ideal, as they cannot simultaneously achieve wide and narrow viewing angles in all directions (i.e., vertically and horizontally). Furthermore, such display panels often exhibit significant grayscale inversion problems at wide viewing angles when operating at narrow viewing angles. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to overcome the shortcomings and deficiencies in the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a display panel with switchable wide and narrow viewing angles, a driving method, and a display device, so as to solve the problem in the prior art that the display panel has poor grayscale inversion at a wide viewing angle at a narrow viewing angle.

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0007] The present invention provides a display panel with switchable wide and narrow viewing angles, comprising a color filter substrate, an array substrate disposed opposite the color filter substrate, and a liquid crystal layer located between the color filter substrate and the array substrate. The color filter substrate is provided with an upper polarizer, and the array substrate is provided with a lower polarizer. The transmission axis of the upper polarizer is perpendicular to the transmission axis of the lower polarizer. The display panel has a plurality of pixel units distributed in an array, each pixel unit including a first sub-pixel unit and a second sub-pixel unit.

[0008] The array substrate is provided with a common electrode and a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode that are insulated from each other. The first pixel electrode corresponds to the first sub-pixel unit, and the second pixel electrode corresponds to the second sub-pixel unit. The electrode strips of the first pixel electrode and the electrode strips of the second pixel electrode extend in different directions. The color filter substrate is provided with a viewing angle control electrode that cooperates with the common electrode, the first pixel electrode, and the second pixel electrode.

[0009] In the wide-viewing mode, the second sub-pixel unit is controlled to be in a dark state, the first sub-pixel unit is used to control the grayscale brightness, and the liquid crystal layers in the areas corresponding to the first sub-pixel unit and the second sub-pixel unit are both in a lying position; in the narrow-viewing-angle mode, the second sub-pixel unit is controlled to be in a bright state, the first sub-pixel unit is used to control the grayscale brightness, and the liquid crystal layers in the areas corresponding to the first sub-pixel unit and the second pixel unit are both in a tilted position.

[0010] Furthermore, the first pixel electrode includes a first electrode strip and a second electrode strip that are conductively connected to each other, the second pixel electrode includes a third electrode strip, and the extension direction of the first electrode strip, the extension direction of the second electrode strip, and the extension direction of the third electrode strip are all different.

[0011] Furthermore, the angle between the extension direction of the first electrode strip and the extension direction of the second electrode strip is 30° to 90°, and the angle between the extension direction of the first electrode strip and the extension direction of the third electrode strip is 30° to 90°.

[0012] Furthermore, the angle between the extension direction of the first electrode strip and the transmission axis of the upper polarizer is 0 to 20°, and the angle between the extension direction of the second electrode strip and the transmission axis of the lower polarizer is 0 to 20°;

[0013] The first electrode strips extend along the direction of the scan lines, or the first electrode strips extend along the direction of the data lines.

[0014] Furthermore, the transmission axis of the upper polarizer is 35° to 55° with the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer, and the extension direction of the third electrode strip is 0° to 7° with the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer.

[0015] Furthermore, the third electrode strip is a zigzag structure;

[0016] The second pixel electrode includes a connecting wire, and the connecting wire conductively connects the plurality of third electrode strips.

[0017] Furthermore, the array substrate is provided with a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of thin film transistors, the plurality of scan lines and the plurality of data lines are insulated from each other and arranged to cross each other, and the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode are electrically connected to the corresponding scan lines and the data lines respectively through different thin film transistors;

[0018] The first sub-pixel unit and the second sub-pixel unit in each pixel unit are arranged along the scan line direction and are located between two adjacent scan lines; the first sub-pixel unit and the second sub-pixel unit in each pixel unit are arranged along the data line direction and are respectively located on the upper and lower sides of the same scan line.

[0019] Furthermore, the common electrode is a planar electrode that covers the entire surface of the array substrate, and the common electrode is provided with a slit corresponding to the electrode strip of the second pixel electrode at the second sub-pixel unit;

[0020] A plurality of common signal lines are provided on the array substrate, and the plurality of common signal lines are all conductively connected to the common electrodes.

[0021] The present application also provides a display device, comprising the display panel with switchable wide and narrow viewing angles as described above.

[0022] The present application further provides a method for driving a display panel, for driving the display panel with a switchable wide and narrow viewing angle as described above, the driving method comprising:

[0023] In the wide viewing angle mode, voltages with a voltage difference less than a first preset value are applied to the common electrode and the viewing angle control electrode, a grayscale voltage is applied to the first pixel electrode, and a dark-state voltage is applied to the second pixel electrode. At this time, the liquid crystal layers in the areas corresponding to the first sub-pixel unit and the second sub-pixel unit are both in a flat position, the first sub-pixel unit is used to control the grayscale brightness, and the second pixel unit is in a dark state;

[0024] In the narrow viewing angle mode, a voltage with a voltage difference greater than a second preset value is applied to the common electrode and the viewing angle control electrode respectively, a grayscale voltage is applied to the first pixel electrode, and a bright state voltage is applied to the second pixel electrode. At this time, the liquid crystal layers in the corresponding areas of the first sub-pixel unit and the second sub-pixel unit are both in a tilted posture, the first sub-pixel unit is used to control the grayscale brightness, and the second sub-pixel unit is in a bright state.

[0025] The beneficial effect of the present invention is that: by insulating the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode from each other and extending the electrode strips in different directions, in the narrow viewing angle mode, the first pixel electrode, in combination with the common electrode and the viewing angle control electrode, can jointly control the first sub-pixel unit to achieve a narrow viewing angle effect with a large viewing angle of light leakage, while the second pixel electrode, in combination with the common electrode and the viewing angle control electrode, can jointly control the second sub-pixel unit to achieve a narrow viewing angle effect with a large viewing angle of light collection. By compensating each other for the viewing angles of the two narrow viewing angle effects of the large viewing angle of light leakage of the first sub-pixel unit and the large viewing angle of light collection of the second sub-pixel unit, the grayscale inversion at a large viewing angle can be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the array substrate in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 The display device in the first embodiment of the present invention is in the initial state along Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the longitudinal section structure at AA in the middle.

[0028] Figure 3 The display device in the first embodiment of the present invention is in the initial state along Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the longitudinal section structure at the middle BB.

[0029] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the color filter substrate in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of driving waveforms of the display device in the wide viewing angle mode according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 6 The display device in the first embodiment of the present invention is in the wide viewing angle mode along Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the longitudinal section structure at AA in the middle.

[0032] Figure 7 The display device in the first embodiment of the present invention is in the wide viewing angle mode along Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the longitudinal section structure at the middle BB.

[0033] Figure 8FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of driving waveforms of the display device in the narrow viewing angle mode according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 9 The display device in the first embodiment of the present invention is in the narrow viewing angle mode along Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the longitudinal section structure at AA in the middle.

[0035] Figure 10 The display device in the first embodiment of the present invention is in the narrow viewing angle mode along Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the longitudinal section structure at the middle BB.

[0036] Figure 11 It is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the array substrate in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 12 The display device in the second embodiment of the present invention is in the initial state along Figure 11 Schematic diagram of the longitudinal section structure at CC in the middle.

[0038] Figure 13 It is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the common electrode in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 14 It is a schematic diagram of a partial planar structure of the second pixel electrode and the common electrode in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 15 This is one of the planar structural diagrams of the array substrate in the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 16 This is the second schematic diagram of the planar structure of the array substrate in the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 17 This is one of the planar structural diagrams of the display device in the present invention.

[0043] Figure 18 This is the second schematic diagram of the planar structure of the display device in the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] To further illustrate the technical means and effects of the present invention to achieve the intended purpose, the following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments, describes in detail the specific implementation, structure, features, and effects of the display panel and driving method with switchable wide and narrow viewing angles, and the display device proposed in the present invention.

[0045] [Example 1]

[0046] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the array substrate in the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 The display device in the first embodiment of the present invention is in the initial state along Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the longitudinal section structure at AA in the middle. Figure 3 The display device in the first embodiment of the present invention is in the initial state along Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the longitudinal section structure at the middle BB. Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the color filter substrate in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, a display panel with a switchable wide and narrow viewing angle provided by the first embodiment of the present invention includes a color filter substrate 10, an array substrate 20 arranged opposite to the color filter substrate 10, and a liquid crystal layer 30 located between the color filter substrate 10 and the array substrate 20. The liquid crystal layer 30 is a positive liquid crystal molecule, that is, a liquid crystal molecule with positive dielectric anisotropy. In the initial state, the liquid crystal layer 30 is in a flat position, that is, the positive liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 30 are aligned parallel to the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20, and the alignment direction of the positive liquid crystal molecules close to the first substrate 10 is antiparallel to the alignment direction of the positive liquid crystal molecules close to the second substrate 20. Of course, the positive liquid crystal molecules can have a small pre-tilt angle (for example, 2° to 5°) when initially aligned, that is, the positive liquid crystal molecules initially form a small angle with the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20, which can accelerate the deflection of the positive liquid crystal molecules toward the vertical direction when switching to a narrow viewing angle. Of course, in other embodiments, the liquid crystal layer 30 may also use negative liquid crystal molecules, but the initial pre-tilt angle of the negative liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 30 needs to be set to 55° to 90°.

[0048] The color filter substrate 10 is provided with an upper polarizer 41, and the array substrate 20 is provided with a lower polarizer 42. The transmission axes of the upper polarizer 41 and the lower polarizer 42 are perpendicular to each other. For example, the transmission axis of the upper polarizer 41 is set at 0°, while the transmission axis of the lower polarizer 42 is set at 90°. The upper polarizer 41 is disposed on the side of the color filter substrate 10 away from the liquid crystal layer 30, and the lower polarizer 42 is disposed on the side of the array substrate 20 away from the liquid crystal layer 30.

[0049] The display panel has a plurality of pixel units P arranged in an array, each pixel unit P including a first sub-pixel unit P1 and a second sub-pixel unit P2. In this embodiment, the first sub-pixel unit P1 and the second sub-pixel unit P2 in each pixel unit P are arranged along the scan line 1 and are located between two adjacent scan lines 1.

[0050] The array substrate 20 is provided with a common electrode 21 and a first pixel electrode 221 and a second pixel electrode 222 that are insulated from each other. The common electrode 21 is a planar electrode that covers the entire surface of the array substrate 20. Of course, the common electrodes 21 corresponding to the first sub-pixel unit P1 and the second sub-pixel unit P2 can also be insulated and spaced apart from each other. That is, the common electrodes 21 are configured as block electrodes corresponding to each first sub-pixel unit P1 and each second sub-pixel unit P2, or as strip electrodes corresponding to each column of first sub-pixel units P1 and each column of second sub-pixel units P2. The first pixel electrode 221 corresponds to the first sub-pixel unit P1, and the second pixel electrode 222 corresponds to the second sub-pixel unit P2. The electrode strips of the first pixel electrode 221 and the second pixel electrode 222 extend in different directions. The array substrate 20 is also provided with a plurality of scan lines 1, a plurality of data lines 2, and a plurality of thin-film transistors 3. The plurality of scan lines 1 and the plurality of data lines 2 are insulated from each other and arranged in a cross-section. The first pixel electrode 221 and the second pixel electrode 222 are electrically connected to the corresponding scan line 1 and data line 2 respectively through different thin-film transistors 3. The first pixel electrode 221 and the second pixel electrode 222 in each pixel unit P are respectively connected to the same scan line 1 and two different data lines 2, so that the first pixel electrode 221 and the second pixel electrode 222 can be independently controlled. The thin-film transistor 3 includes a gate, an active layer, a drain, and a source. The gate and the scan line 1 are located on the same layer and are electrically connected. The gate and the active layer are separated by an insulating layer. The source is electrically connected to the data line 2. The drain is electrically connected to the pixel electrodes (the first pixel electrode 221 and the second pixel electrode 222) through contact holes.

[0051] like Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, the common electrode 21 and the pixel electrodes (first pixel electrode 221, second pixel electrode 222) are located in different layers and are isolated by an insulating layer. The common electrode 21 can be located above or below the pixel electrode ( Figure 2 (As shown in the figure, the common electrode 21 is located below the pixel electrode). Preferably, the common electrode 21 is a planar electrode provided on the entire surface, and the pixel electrode is a slit electrode having multiple electrode strips within each pixel unit to form a Fringe Field Switching (FFS) mode. Of course, in other embodiments, the pixel electrode and the common electrode 21 may be located on the same layer, but the two are insulated and isolated from each other. The pixel electrode and the common electrode 21 may each include multiple electrode strips, and the electrode strips of the pixel electrode and the electrode strips of the common electrode 21 are arranged alternately to form an In-Plane Switching (IPS) mode.

[0052] The color filter substrate 10 is provided with color resist layers 12 arranged in an array and a black matrix 11 separating the color resist layers 12. The color resist layers 12 include red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color resist materials, forming corresponding red (R), green (G), and blue (B) pixel units P. The first sub-pixel unit P1 and the second sub-pixel unit P2 within the same pixel unit P correspond to the same color resist layer 12. The black matrix 11 corresponds to the scan lines 1, data lines 2, and thin-film transistors 3, thereby preventing metallic reflections or light leakage from the scan lines 1, data lines 2, and thin-film transistors 3. The color filter substrate 10 is also provided with a viewing angle control electrode 13 that cooperates with the common electrode 21, the first pixel electrode 221, and the second pixel electrode 222. The viewing angle control electrode 13 is a planar electrode that covers the entire surface of the color filter substrate 10 and is disposed on the side of the color filter substrate 10 facing the liquid crystal layer 30.

[0053] In this embodiment, the first pixel electrode 221 includes first and second electrode strips 221a and 221b that are conductively connected to each other, and the second pixel electrode 222 includes third electrode strips 222a. The first, second, and third electrode strips 221a and 221b extend in different directions, thereby enabling the display panel to achieve an omnidirectional narrow viewing angle. Optionally, the third electrode strips 222a have a zigzag structure, which enables the second sub-pixel unit P2 to achieve a light-collecting effect at an omnidirectional wide viewing angle in narrow viewing angle mode, thereby improving grayscale inversion at an omnidirectional wide viewing angle.

[0054] Furthermore, the second pixel electrode 222 includes a connecting wire 222 b , which conductively connects the plurality of third electrode strips 222 a , thereby reducing the resistance of the second pixel electrode 222 .

[0055] Furthermore, the angle between the extension direction of the first electrode strip 221a and the extension direction of the second electrode strip 221b is 30° to 90°, and the angle between the extension direction of the first electrode strip 221a and the extension direction of the third electrode strip 222a is 30° to 90°. For example, the extension direction of the first electrode strip 221a is 0°, the extension direction of the second electrode strip 221b is 30° to 90°, and the extension direction of the third electrode strip 222a is -30° to -90°.

[0056] Optionally, the angle between the extension direction of the first electrode strip 221a and the transmission axis of the upper polarizer 41 is 0 to 20°, and the angle between the extension direction of the second electrode strip 221b and the transmission axis of the lower polarizer 42 is 0 to 20°. For example, the transmission axis of the upper polarizer 41 is set to 0°, and the transmission axis of the lower polarizer 42 is set to 90°. The transmission axis of the upper polarizer 41 is 35 to 55° with the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer 30, for example, the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer 30 is 55°, and the extension direction of the third electrode strip 222a is 0 to 7° with the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer 30. The angle between the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer 30 and the first electrode strip 221a is half of the angle between the first electrode strip 221a and the second electrode strip 221b ± 5° (e.g. Figure 1 Arrow F in the middle indicates the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer 30. Designing the initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer 30 to be the same simplifies the alignment process, further simplifying the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device. By designing the extension directions of the first, second, and third electrode strips 221a, 221b, and 222a in this manner, combined with the alignment of the liquid crystal layer 30, the display quality in narrow viewing angle mode is enhanced, providing excellent privacy protection. Furthermore, the first sub-pixel unit P1 achieves improved narrow viewing angle effects with wide viewing angle light leakage, while the second sub-pixel unit P2 achieves improved narrow viewing angle effects with wide viewing angle light collection, thereby further improving grayscale inversion at wide viewing angles.

[0057] Furthermore, within each pixel unit P, the area ratio of the first sub-pixel unit P1 to the second sub-pixel unit P2 is 1:1 to 0.5, where the area ratio of the first sub-pixel unit P1 to the second sub-pixel unit P2 can be adjusted according to actual conditions. This area ratio design can achieve better display effects in narrow viewing angle mode and provide excellent anti-peeping effects. It can also better prevent grayscale inversion at wide viewing angles without affecting normal image display.

[0058] The color filter substrate 10 and the array substrate 20 can be made of glass, acrylic, polycarbonate, etc. The viewing angle control electrode 13, the first pixel electrode 221, the second pixel electrode 222, and the common electrode 21 can be made of indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO).

[0059] The present application also provides a method for driving a display panel, for driving the display panel with a wide and narrow viewing angle switchable as described above. The driving method comprises:

[0060] Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of driving waveforms of the display device in the wide viewing angle mode according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 The display device in the first embodiment of the present invention is in the wide viewing angle mode along Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the longitudinal section structure at AA in the middle. Figure 7The display device in the first embodiment of the present invention is in the wide viewing angle mode along Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the longitudinal section structure at BB in the middle. Figures 5 to 7 As shown, in wide-viewing angle mode, a voltage difference less than a first preset value is applied to the common electrode 21 and the viewing angle control electrode 13. For example, a DC common voltage Vcom is applied to both the common electrode 21 and the viewing angle control electrode 13. A grayscale voltage V1, such as a 5.5V grayscale voltage V1, is applied to the first pixel electrode 221. The grayscale voltage V1 fluctuates around the DC common voltage Vcom. The first sub-pixel P1 is used to control grayscale brightness. The grayscale voltage V1 includes grayscale levels of 0 to 255. When different grayscale voltages are applied to the first pixel electrode 221, the first sub-pixel P1 exhibits different brightness levels, thereby displaying different images. A dark-state voltage is applied to the second pixel electrode 222. This voltage is a voltage at which the electric field between the second pixel electrode 222 and the common electrode 21 can drive the second sub-pixel P2 to a dark state, thereby darkening the second sub-pixel P2 and preventing it from displaying images in wide-viewing angle mode. At this time, the liquid crystal layer 30 in the corresponding areas of the first sub-pixel unit P1 and the second sub-pixel unit P2 are both in a lying position, and the positive liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 30 only rotate in the horizontal direction under the action of the horizontal electric field formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode 21 to achieve normal wide-viewing angle display.

[0061] Figure 8 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of driving waveforms of the display device in the narrow viewing angle mode according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 The display device in the first embodiment of the present invention is in the narrow viewing angle mode along Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the longitudinal section structure at AA in the middle. Figure 10 The display device in the first embodiment of the present invention is in the narrow viewing angle mode along Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the longitudinal section structure at BB in the middle. Figures 8 to 10As shown, in narrow viewing angle mode, a voltage difference greater than a second preset value (e.g., greater than 4V) is applied to the common electrode 21 and the viewing angle control electrode 13. For example, a DC common voltage Vcom is applied to the common electrode 21, and a second voltage V2 (e.g., an AC voltage of 9V) is applied to the viewing angle control electrode 13. A grayscale voltage V1, e.g., a 5.5V grayscale voltage V1, is applied to the first pixel electrode 221. The grayscale voltage V1 fluctuates around the DC common voltage Vcom. The first sub-pixel P1 is used to control grayscale brightness. The grayscale voltage V1 includes grayscale levels from 0 to 255. When different grayscale voltages are applied to the first pixel electrode 221, the first sub-pixel P1 exhibits different brightness levels, thereby displaying different images. A bright-state voltage, e.g., a 5V voltage, is applied to the second pixel electrode 222, causing the second sub-pixel P2 to be in a bright state. Alternatively, a grayscale voltage can be applied to the second pixel electrode 222. In narrow viewing angle mode, the first and second sub-pixel P1 and P2 are used together to display images. At this time, a voltage difference greater than a second preset value (e.g., greater than 4V) exists between the viewing angle control electrode 13 and the common electrode 21, and the liquid crystal layer 30 in the corresponding regions of the first sub-pixel unit P1 and the second sub-pixel unit P2 is tilted, thereby achieving a narrow viewing angle effect. Because the first electrode strips 221a and the second electrode strips 221b extend in different directions, the liquid crystal molecules in the region corresponding to the first electrode strips 221a of the first sub-pixel unit P1 are tilted at one angle, and in the region corresponding to the second electrode strips 221b, the liquid crystal molecules are tilted at another angle. This simultaneously generates left-right light leakage and top-down light leakage, thereby enabling the first sub-pixel unit P1 to achieve a narrow viewing angle effect with light leakage at an all-around wide viewing angle. The third electrode strips 222a extend in different directions from the first electrode strips 221a and the second electrode strips 221b, and the third electrode strips 222a have a zigzag structure, thereby enabling the second sub-pixel unit P2 to achieve a narrow viewing angle effect with light collection at an all-around wide viewing angle. The wide-viewing angle light leakage of the first sub-pixel unit P1 and the wide-viewing angle light collection of the second sub-pixel unit P2 compensate each other, thereby improving the grayscale inversion at a wide viewing angle.

[0062] Table 1

[0063]

[0064] Table 1 shows the narrow viewing angle image effect of the first sub-pixel unit P1. It can be seen from Table 1 that the first sub-pixel unit P1 can achieve a narrow viewing angle effect with light leakage under a wide viewing angle, but there is a grayscale inversion problem between 75° and 80°.

[0065] [Example 2]

[0066] Figure 12 The display device in the second embodiment of the present invention is in the initial state along Figure 11 13 is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the common electrode in the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 14 FIG is a schematic diagram of a partial planar structure of the second pixel electrode and the common electrode in the second embodiment of the present invention. Figures 11 to 15 As shown, the display panel with switchable wide and narrow viewing angles provided by the second embodiment of the present invention is different from the display panel provided by the first embodiment ( Figures 1 to 10 ) are substantially the same, except that, in this embodiment:

[0067] The common electrode 21 is a planar electrode that covers the entire surface of the array substrate 20. A slit 211 corresponding to the electrode strip of the second pixel electrode 222 is provided on the common electrode 21 at the second sub-pixel unit P2. That is, a slit 211 corresponding to the third electrode strip 222a is provided on the common electrode 21 at the second sub-pixel unit P2, and the third electrode strip 222a is exposed from the slit 211. This reduces the capacitance formed between the second pixel electrode 222 and the common electrode 21, thereby reducing the driving delay and driving power consumption of the second sub-pixel unit P2.

[0068] like Figure 11 As shown, in this embodiment, a plurality of common signal lines 4 are provided on the array substrate 20, and the plurality of common signal lines 4 are all conductively connected to the common electrode 21. The common signal lines 4 and the data lines 2 are located on the same layer and are arranged parallel to each other. The common signal lines 4 are conductively connected to the common electrode 21 through contact holes, thereby reducing the driving delay of the common electrode 21.

[0069] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the remaining structures and working principles of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment and will not be described in detail here.

[0070] [Example 3]

[0071] Figure 15 This is one of the planar structural diagrams of the array substrate in the third embodiment of the present invention. Figure 16 This is the second schematic diagram of the planar structure of the array substrate in the third embodiment of the present invention. Figures 15 and 16 As shown, the display panel with switchable wide and narrow viewing angles provided by the third embodiment of the present invention is different from the display panel provided by the first embodiment ( Figures 1 to 10 ), Example 2 ( Figures 11 to 14 ) are substantially the same, except that, in this embodiment:

[0072] The first sub-pixel unit P1 and the second sub-pixel unit P2 in each pixel unit P are arranged along the direction of the data line 2 and are respectively located on the upper and lower sides of the same scan line 1. Figure 15 As shown, the first electrode strip 221a may extend along the direction of the scan line 1; Figure 16As shown, the first electrode strips 221a may also extend along the direction of the data lines 2. When the arrangement of the first electrode strips 221a is reversed, the corresponding extension directions of the second electrode strips 221b and the third electrode strips 222a, as well as the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer 30, also need to be changed accordingly.

[0073] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the remaining structures and working principles of this embodiment are the same as those of the first and second embodiments, and will not be described in detail here.

[0074] The present application also provides a display device, comprising the display panel with a switchable wide and narrow viewing angle as described above. Figure 2 and Figure 3 The display device also includes a backlight module 50. The display panel is disposed on the light-emitting side of the backlight module 50. The backlight module 50 is used to provide backlight for the display panel. The backlight module 50 can employ a collimated backlight (CBL) mode to collect light and ensure a good display effect. Alternatively, the backlight module 50 can employ an edge-lit backlight module.

[0075] Figure 17 and Figure 18 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the display device in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 17 and Figure 18 The display device is provided with a viewing angle switching button 50 for the user to send a viewing angle switching request to the display device. The viewing angle switching button 60 can be a physical button (such as Figure 17 As shown), it can also be a software control or application (APP) to achieve the switching function (as shown Figure 18 As shown, for example, a slider is used to set the wide and narrow viewing angles. When a user needs to switch between a wide viewing angle and a narrow viewing angle, the user can operate the viewing angle switching button 60 to send a viewing angle switching request to the display device. Ultimately, the driver chip 70 controls the electrical signals applied to the viewing angle control electrode 13, the common electrode 21, and the second pixel electrode 222. The display device can thus switch between a wide viewing angle and a narrow viewing angle. When switching to a wide viewing angle, the driving method thereof adopts the driving method corresponding to the wide-angle mode, and when switching to a narrow viewing angle, the driving method thereof adopts the driving method corresponding to the narrow viewing angle mode. Therefore, the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention has strong operational flexibility and convenience, achieving a multifunctional display device integrating entertainment video and privacy protection.

[0076] In this document, directional terms such as "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," and "back" are defined based on the positions of structures in the accompanying drawings and their relative positions to each other, for the sake of clarity and convenience in presenting the technical solution. It should be understood that the use of these directional terms does not limit the scope of protection claimed in this application. It should also be understood that the terms "first" and "second," etc., used herein, are used solely for distinctions and are not intended to limit quantity or order.

[0077] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not constitute any form of limitation to the present invention. Although the present invention has been disclosed as a preferred embodiment as above, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any technician familiar with this profession can make some changes or modifications to the technical contents disclosed above without departing from the scope of the technical solution of the present invention, which are equivalent embodiments of equivalent changes. However, any simple modifications, equivalent changes and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the content of the technical solution of the present invention are still within the scope of protection of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A display panel with switchable wide and narrow viewing angles, characterized in that: The display panel comprises a color filter substrate (10), an array substrate (20) arranged opposite to the color filter substrate (10), and a liquid crystal layer (30) located between the color filter substrate (10) and the array substrate (20); the color filter substrate (10) is provided with an upper polarizer (41); the array substrate (20) is provided with a lower polarizer (42); the light transmission axis of the upper polarizer (41) and the light transmission axis of the lower polarizer (42) are perpendicular to each other; the display panel comprises a plurality of pixel units (P) distributed in an array; each pixel unit (P) comprises a first sub-pixel unit (P1) and a second sub-pixel unit (P2); The array substrate (20) is provided with a common electrode (21) and a first pixel electrode (221) and a second pixel electrode (222) that are insulated from each other; the first pixel electrode (221) corresponds to the first sub-pixel unit (P1), and the second pixel electrode (222) corresponds to the second sub-pixel unit (P2); the electrode strips of the first pixel electrode (221) and the electrode strips of the second pixel electrode (222) extend in different directions; and the color film substrate (10) is provided with a viewing angle control electrode (13) that cooperates with the common electrode (21), the first pixel electrode (221), and the second pixel electrode (222); The first pixel electrode (221) comprises a first electrode strip (221a) and a second electrode strip (221b) which are conductively connected to each other, the second pixel electrode (222) comprises a third electrode strip (222a), the extension direction of the first electrode strip (221a), the extension direction of the second electrode strip (221b), and the extension direction of the third electrode strip (222a) are all different, the angle between the extension direction of the first electrode strip (221a) and the extension direction of the second electrode strip (221b) is 30° to 90°, the angle between the extension direction of the first electrode strip (221a) and the extension direction of the third electrode strip (222a) is 30° to 90°, the angle between the extension direction of the first electrode strip (221a) and the light transmission axis of the upper polarizer (41) is 0° to 20°, and the angle between the extension direction of the second electrode strip (221b) and the light transmission axis of the lower polarizer (42) is 0° to 20°; The first electrode strip (221a) extends along the direction of the scan line (1), or the first electrode strip (221a) extends along the direction of the data line (2); In the wide-viewing mode, the second sub-pixel unit (P2) is controlled to be in a dark state, the first sub-pixel unit (P1) is used to control the grayscale brightness, and the liquid crystal layers (30) in the areas corresponding to the first sub-pixel unit (P1) and the second sub-pixel unit (P2) are both in a flat position; in the narrow-viewing mode, the second sub-pixel unit (P2) is controlled to be in a bright state, the first sub-pixel unit (P1) is used to control the grayscale brightness, and the liquid crystal layers (30) in the areas corresponding to the first sub-pixel unit (P1) and the second sub-pixel unit (P2) are both in a tilted position.

2. The display panel with switchable wide and narrow viewing angles according to claim 1, wherein: The transmission axis of the upper polarizer (41) is 35° to 55° with the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer (30), and the extension direction of the third electrode strip (222a) is 0° to 7° with the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer (30).

3. The display panel with switchable wide and narrow viewing angles according to claim 1, wherein: The third electrode strip (222a) is a zigzag structure; The second pixel electrode (222) includes a connecting wire (222b), and the connecting wire (222b) electrically connects the plurality of third electrode strips (222a).

4. The display panel with switchable wide and narrow viewing angles according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The array substrate (20) is provided with a plurality of scan lines (1), a plurality of data lines (2) and a plurality of thin film transistors (3); the plurality of scan lines (1) and the plurality of data lines (2) are insulated and arranged crosswise from each other; the first pixel electrode (221) and the second pixel electrode (222) are electrically connected to the corresponding scan lines (1) and the data lines (2) respectively through different thin film transistors (3); The first sub-pixel unit (P1) and the second sub-pixel unit (P2) in each pixel unit (P) are arranged along the direction of the scan line (1) and are located between two adjacent scan lines (1); or, the first sub-pixel unit (P1) and the second sub-pixel unit (P2) in each pixel unit (P) are arranged along the direction of the data line (2) and are respectively located on the upper and lower sides of the same scan line (1).

5. The display panel with switchable wide and narrow viewing angles according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The common electrode (21) is a planar electrode that covers the entire surface of the array substrate (20), and the common electrode (21) is provided with a slit (211) corresponding to the electrode strip of the second pixel electrode (222) at the second sub-pixel unit (P2); A plurality of common signal lines (4) are provided on the array substrate (20), and the plurality of common signal lines (4) are all conductively connected to the common electrode (21).

6. A display device, characterized in that: The invention comprises a display panel with switchable wide and narrow viewing angles as described in any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A method for driving a display panel, characterized in that: For driving the display panel with a wide and narrow viewing angle switchable according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the driving method comprising: In the wide viewing angle mode, a voltage having a voltage difference less than a first preset value is applied to the common electrode (21) and the viewing angle control electrode (13), a grayscale voltage is applied to the first pixel electrode (221), and a dark-state voltage is applied to the second pixel electrode (222). At this time, the liquid crystal layer (30) in the corresponding areas of the first sub-pixel unit (P1) and the second sub-pixel unit (P2) is in a flat position, the first sub-pixel unit (P1) is used to control the grayscale brightness, and the second sub-pixel unit (P2) is in a dark state. In a narrow viewing angle mode, a voltage having a voltage difference greater than a second preset value is applied to the common electrode (21) and the viewing angle control electrode (13), a grayscale voltage is applied to the first pixel electrode (221), and a bright-state voltage is applied to the second pixel electrode (222). At this time, the liquid crystal layer (30) in the corresponding areas of the first sub-pixel unit (P1) and the second sub-pixel unit (P2) is in a tilted posture, the first sub-pixel unit (P1) is used to control grayscale brightness, and the second sub-pixel unit (P2) is in a bright state.

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