Display device

Abstract

The invention provides a display device which comprises a display panel and a light guide structure. The light guide structure has a first light incident surface and a light emergent surface, and includes a first portion, a second portion, a connecting portion and a plurality of first optical microstructures. The first part is arranged on one side of the first surface of the display panel and overlaps the first surface. A first light incident surface is arranged on one side, back to the display panel, of the first part; the second part is arranged on one side of the second surface of the display panel and overlaps the second surface. The first surface is opposite to the second surface. The side, facing the display panel, of the second part is provided with a light emitting face. The connecting part is bent and extends from one side of the first surface of the display panel to one side of the second surface of the display panel, and is connected with the first part and the second part. The plurality of first optical microstructures are arranged on the first light incident surface of the first part. The ambient light is adapted to enter the first portion via the plurality of first optical microstructures and to be transmitted from the first portion to the second portion via the connecting portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device, and in particular to a display device with a light guide structure. Background Art

[0002] In response to the need for energy saving, a fully reflective or transflective display has been proposed. This type of display uses ambient light as the illumination source for display. However, when the ambient light moves to the back side of the display surface of the display, it cannot be effectively utilized. Therefore, how to improve the utilization rate of the ambient light has become one of the development focuses of this type of display. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present invention is directed to a display device which has a better utilization rate of ambient light source.

[0004] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a display device includes a display panel and a light guide structure. The display panel has a first surface and a second surface facing away from each other. The light guide structure has a first light incident surface and a light emitting surface, and includes a first part, a second part, a connecting part and a plurality of first optical microstructures. The first part is arranged on a side of the first surface of the display panel and overlaps the first surface. The first part is provided with a first light incident surface on a side facing away from the display panel. The second part is arranged on a side of the second surface of the display panel and overlaps the second surface. The second part is provided with a light emitting surface on a side facing the display panel. The connecting part extends in a bent manner from a side of the first surface of the display panel to a side of the second surface of the display panel, and connects the first part and the second part. A plurality of first optical microstructures are arranged on the first light incident surface of the first part. Ambient light is suitable for incident on the first part via the plurality of first optical microstructures, and is transmitted from the first part to the second part via the connecting part.

[0005] In the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of first optical microstructures are a plurality of refractive structures, and the cross-sectional profile of each of the refractive structures is in the shape of a broken line or a curve.

[0006] In the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of refractive structures has a refractive surface connected to the first light incident surface. The first portion has an angle between the refractive surface and the first light incident surface, and the angle is greater than or equal to 30 degrees and less than or equal to 60 degrees.

[0007] In the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention, each of the refractive structures has a structure height along a direction perpendicular to the first light incident surface, and the structure height is greater than or equal to 1.5 micrometers and less than or equal to 50 micrometers.

[0008] In the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of first optical microstructures are a plurality of diffraction structures, and the cross-sectional profile of each of the diffraction structures is a rectangle or a parallelogram.

[0009] In the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of diffraction structures has a structure side surface connected to the first light incident surface, and an angle between the structure side surface and the first light incident surface is greater than or equal to 20 degrees and less than or equal to 90 degrees.

[0010] In the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of diffraction structures are arranged on the first light incident surface at intervals with a pitch, and the pitch is greater than or equal to 0.4 micrometers and less than or equal to 0.7 micrometers.

[0011] In a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of diffraction structures are arranged on the first light incident surface at intervals. Each diffraction structure has a structure height along a direction perpendicular to the first light incident surface, and a ratio of the structure height to the pitch is greater than or equal to 0.3 and less than or equal to 0.7.

[0012] In the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the display device further comprises a light source. The second part has a back surface opposite to the light emitting surface and a second light incident surface connected to the back surface, and the light source is arranged on one side of the second light incident surface of the second part.

[0013] In the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the display device further comprises a plurality of second optical microstructures arranged on the back side of the second part facing away from the light emitting surface. The second optical microstructures are suitable for guiding the ambient light transmitted to the second part via the connecting part to the display panel.

[0014] Based on the above, in a display device of an embodiment of the present invention, the first and second parts of the light guide structure are respectively provided on opposite sides of the first and second surfaces of the display panel. The first part of the light guide structure is provided with a plurality of first optical microstructures on a surface on a side facing away from the display panel. Ambient light located on one side of the first surface of the display panel is suitable for entering the first part through these first optical microstructures, and is transmitted to the second part through the connecting part extending between the first and second parts in a bent manner, so as to serve as an additional illumination light source for the display panel, thereby improving the utilization rate of the ambient light source for the display device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2A and Figure 2B yes Figure 1 Schematic cross-sectional views of other variant embodiments of the first part of the light guide structure;

[0017] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Description of Reference Numerals

[0020] 10, 10A, 10B: display device;

[0021] ABL: ambient light;

[0022] BC: back plate;

[0023] BS: Back

[0024] DP: display panel;

[0025] ES: light-emitting surface;

[0026] Hs, Hs”: structure height;

[0027] IS1: first light incident surface;

[0028] IS2: Second light incident surface;

[0029] LGcp: connection part;

[0030] LGp1, LGp1A, LGp1B, LGp1C, LGp1D: Part I;

[0031] LGp2: Part II;

[0032] LGS, LGS-C, LGS-D: light-guiding structure;

[0033] LS: light source;

[0034] MS1, MS1A, MS1B, MS1C, MS1D: first optical microstructure;

[0035] MS2: second optical microstructure;

[0036] P: pitch;

[0037] RFs: refractive surfaces;

[0038] SF1: first surface;

[0039] SF2: second surface;

[0040] SS, SS”: structural side;

[0041] Ws, Ws”: structure width;

[0042] θ, α, α”: angle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The term "coupled (or connected)" used throughout the specification of this application may refer to any direct or indirect means of connection. For example, if the text describes a first device coupled (or connected) to a second device, it should be interpreted that the first device can be directly connected to the second device, or the first device can be indirectly connected to the second device through other devices or some connection means. The terms "first", "second", etc. mentioned throughout the specification of this application are used to name components (element) or to distinguish different embodiments or ranges, and are not used to limit the upper or lower limit of the number of components, nor to limit the order of components.

[0044] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

[0045] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2A and Figure 2B yes Figure 1 See the cross-sectional diagrams of other variant embodiments of the first part of the light guide structure. Figure 1 The display device 10 includes a display panel DP and a light guide structure LGS. The display panel DP has a first surface SF1 and a second surface SF2 facing each other. In the present embodiment, the display panel DP is, for example, a reflective display panel or a transflective display panel. The first surface SF1 is, for example, the back side of the display panel DP, and the second surface SF2 is, for example, the display surface of the display panel DP.

[0046] The light guide structure LGS is disposed on opposite sides of the first surface SF1 and the second surface SF2 of the display panel DP. The material of the light guide structure LGS includes, for example, polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or other suitable optical-grade film materials. In detail, the light guide structure LGS includes a first portion LGp1, a second portion LGp2, a connecting portion LGcp and a plurality of first optical microstructures MS1. The first portion LGp1 is disposed on one side of the first surface SF1 of the display panel DP and overlaps the first surface SF1. The second portion LGp2 is disposed on one side of the second surface SF2 of the display panel DP and overlaps the second surface SF2.

[0047] It should be noted that the aforementioned overlapping relationship is, for example, that the two components overlap each other along the normal direction of the first surface SF1 or the second surface SF2. If not specifically mentioned below, the overlapping relationship of the two components is defined in the same way and the overlapping direction will not be repeated.

[0048] Further, the connection portion LGcp extends from one side of the first surface SF1 of the display panel DP to one side of the second surface SF2 of the display panel DP in a bent manner, and connects the first portion LGp1 and the second portion LGp2. In other words, the connection portion LGcp of the light guide structure LGS is disposed on one side of a side surface of the display panel DP, wherein the side surface connects the first surface SF1 and the second surface SF2.

[0049] It is particularly noted that the first part LGp1 of the light guide structure LGS is provided with a first light incident surface IS1 on the side facing away from the display panel DP. A plurality of first optical microstructures MS1 are arranged on the first light incident surface IS1 of the first part LGp1. Ambient light ABL is suitable for entering the first part LGp1 of the light guide structure LGS via these first optical microstructures MS1, and is transmitted from the first part LGp1 to the second part LGp2 via the connecting part LGcp. More specifically, these first optical microstructures MS1 on the first part LGp1 are suitable for extracting ambient light ABL located on the back side of the display panel DP (i.e., one side of the first surface SF1).

[0050] In this embodiment, the plurality of first optical microstructures MS1 are, for example, a plurality of refractive structures, and the cross-sectional profile of each of the refractive structures may be a broken line, such as a triangle. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In another variant embodiment, the cross-sectional profile of the first optical microstructure MS1A on the first portion LGp1A may be a trapezoid (e.g., Figure 2A In another variant embodiment, the cross-sectional profile of the first optical microstructure MS1B on the first part LGp1B of the light guide structure may be a semicircular shape (as shown in FIG. Figure 2B as shown) or free curves.

[0051] Please continue to refer to Figure 1 In this embodiment, each refractive structure has a refractive surface RFs connected to the first light incident surface IS1. The first portion LGp1 has an angle θ between the refractive surface RFs and the first light incident surface IS1, and the angle θ is preferably greater than or equal to 30 degrees and less than or equal to 60 degrees.

[0052] On the other hand, each refractive structure (i.e., the first optical microstructure MS1) has a structure height Hs along a direction perpendicular to the first light incident surface IS1, and the structure height Hs is preferably greater than or equal to 1.5 microns and less than or equal to 50 microns. Figure 1 The optical microstructure has a structure width Ws in the horizontal direction of the image, and the structure width Ws is preferably greater than or equal to 3 microns and less than or equal to 100 microns. In this embodiment, the method for manufacturing the optical microstructure includes, for example, UV nanoimprint lithography or thermoforming nanoimprint lithography, but is not limited thereto.

[0053] Further, the second part LGp2 of the light guiding structure LGS has a light emitting surface ES facing the display panel DP, and the ambient light ABL transmitted to the second part LGp2 via the connecting part LGcp is suitable for being irradiated on the display surface (e.g., the second surface SF2) of the display panel DP through the light emitting surface ES. The second part LGp2 of the light guiding structure LGS also has a back side BS facing away from the light emitting surface ES and a second light incident surface IS2 connected to the back side BS. In the present embodiment, a plurality of second optical microstructures MS2 are optionally provided on the back side BS of the second part LGp2 of the light guiding structure LGS. These second optical microstructures MS2 are suitable for guiding the ambient light ABL transmitted to the second part LGp2 via the connecting part LGcp to the display surface (i.e., the second surface SF2) of the display panel DP as illumination light for display.

[0054] That is to say, by setting the light guide structure LGS, the ambient light ABL located on the back side of the display panel DP (i.e., the side with the first surface SF1) can be guided to the display side of the display panel DP (i.e., the side with the second surface SF2), which helps to improve the utilization rate of the ambient light source of the display device 10.

[0055] For example, in the present embodiment, the display device 10 may further optionally include a light source LS, which is disposed on one side of the second light incident surface IS2 of the second portion LGp2. The light source LS is, for example, a light emitting diode or a laser diode, but is not limited thereto. The light source LS is suitable for providing the illumination light required for the display panel DP to display when the ambient light is insufficient. That is, the light source LS and the second portion LGp2 of the light guide structure LGS may serve as a front light module of the display panel DP, but is not limited thereto.

[0056] In the present embodiment, a back plate BC is optionally disposed on one side of the first surface SF1 of the display panel DP. The material of the back plate BC includes, for example, glass, plastic, resin, metal or alloy, but is not limited thereto.

[0057] Other embodiments will be listed below to illustrate the present disclosure 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 aforementioned embodiments, which will not be repeated below.

[0058] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 The display device 10A of this embodiment and Figure 1 The difference between the display device 10 and the display device 10A is that the configuration of the first optical microstructure is different. For example, in this embodiment, the plurality of first optical microstructures MS1C of the display device 10A are, for example, a plurality of diffraction structures, and the cross-sectional profile of each of the diffraction structures is a rectangle, but it is not limited thereto.

[0059] In this embodiment, each diffraction structure has a structure side surface SS connected to the first light incident surface IS1. The first portion LGp1C has an angle α between the structure side surface SS and the first light incident surface IS1, and the angle α is preferably greater than or equal to 20 degrees and less than or equal to 90 degrees. In this embodiment, the angle α is, for example, 90 degrees.

[0060] On the other hand, a plurality of diffraction structures (i.e., first optical microstructures MS1C) are arranged on the first light incident surface IS1 at intervals of pitch P, and the pitch P is preferably greater than or equal to 0.4 micrometers and less than or equal to 0.7 micrometers. Each diffraction structure has a structure height Hs" along a direction perpendicular to the first light incident surface IS1, and the ratio of the structure height Hs" to the pitch P is preferably greater than or equal to 0.3 and less than or equal to 0.7. Each diffraction structure is arranged along the direction of the plurality of diffraction structures (e.g., Figure 3 The horizontal direction in the structure has a structure width Ws", and the ratio of the structure width Ws" to the pitch P is preferably greater than or equal to 0.2 and less than or equal to 0.5.

[0061] These diffraction structures on the first part LGp1C of the light-guiding structure LGS-C are suitable for collecting ambient light ABL located on the back side of the display panel DP and coming from different directions, and guiding it to the display side of the display panel DP (i.e., the side where the second surface SF2 is provided) via the connecting part LGcp, thereby helping to improve the utilization rate of the ambient light source by the display device 10A.

[0062] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 The display device 10B of this embodiment is Figure 3 The only difference between the display device 10A and the display device 10B is that the configuration of the first optical microstructure is different. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the angle α” between the structural side SS” of the first optical microstructure MS1D (i.e., the diffraction structure) of the light-guiding structure LGS-D of the display device 10B and the first light incident surface IS1 is not 90 degrees, but is, for example, 60 degrees, but not limited thereto. That is, in the present embodiment, the structural side SS” of the diffraction structure is tilted relative to the first light incident surface IS1 of the first part LGp1D.

[0063] These diffraction structures (i.e., the first optical microstructure MS1D) on the first part LGp1D of the light-guiding structure LGS-D are suitable for collecting ambient light ABL located on the back side of the display panel DP and coming from different directions, and guiding it to the display side of the display panel DP (i.e., the side where the second surface SF2 is provided) via the connecting part LGcp, thereby helping to improve the utilization rate of the ambient light source by the display device 10B.

[0064] In summary, in a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, a first portion and a second portion of a light guide structure are respectively disposed on opposite sides of a first surface and a second surface of a display panel. A plurality of first optical microstructures are disposed on a surface of the first portion of the light guide structure that is opposite to the display panel. Ambient light located on one side of the first surface of the display panel is adapted to enter the first portion through these first optical microstructures, and be transmitted to the second portion through a connecting portion extending between the first portion and the second portion in a bent manner, so as to serve as an additional illumination light source for the display panel, thereby improving the utilization rate of the ambient light source for the display device.

[0065] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A display device, characterized in that: include: The display panel has a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface; as well as The light guide structure has a first light incident surface and a light emitting surface, and the light guide structure includes: A first portion is disposed on one side of the first surface of the display panel and overlaps the first surface, and the first portion is provided with the first light incident surface on a side facing away from the display panel; A second portion is disposed on one side of the second surface of the display panel and overlaps the second surface, and the second portion is provided with the light emitting surface on a side facing the display panel; a connecting portion extending in a bent manner from one side of the first surface of the display panel to one side of the second surface of the display panel and connecting the first portion and the second portion; and A plurality of first optical microstructures are arranged on the first light incident surface of the first portion, wherein ambient light is suitable for entering the first portion via the plurality of first optical microstructures and being transmitted from the first portion to the second portion via the connecting portion.

2. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that The plurality of first optical microstructures are a plurality of refractive structures, and the cross-sectional profile of each of the plurality of refractive structures is in the shape of a broken line or a curve.

3. The display device according to claim 2, characterized in that: Each of the plurality of refractive structures has a refractive surface connected to the first light incident surface, the first portion has an angle between the refractive surface and the first light incident surface, and the angle is greater than or equal to 30 degrees and less than or equal to 60 degrees.

4. The display device according to claim 2, characterized in that: Each of the plurality of refractive structures has a structure height along a direction perpendicular to the first light incident surface, and the structure height is greater than or equal to 1.5 micrometers and less than or equal to 50 micrometers.

5. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that The plurality of first optical microstructures are a plurality of diffraction structures, and the cross-sectional profile of each of the plurality of diffraction structures is a rectangle or a parallelogram.

6. The display device according to claim 5, characterized in that: Each of the plurality of diffraction structures has a structure side surface connected to the first light incident surface, and an angle between the structure side surface and the first light incident surface is greater than or equal to 20 degrees and less than or equal to 90 degrees.

7. The display device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The plurality of diffraction structures are arranged on the first light incident surface at intervals according to a pitch, and the pitch is greater than or equal to 0.4 micrometers and less than or equal to 0.7 micrometers.

8. The display device according to claim 5, characterized in that The multiple diffraction structures are arranged on the first light incident surface at a pitch interval, each of the multiple diffraction structures has a structure height along a direction perpendicular to the first light incident surface, and the ratio of the structure height to the pitch is greater than or equal to 0.3 and less than or equal to 0.

7.

9. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: The light source, wherein the second part has a back surface facing away from the light emitting surface and a second light incident surface connected to the back surface, and the light source is arranged on one side of the second light incident surface of the second part.

10. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: A plurality of second optical microstructures are arranged on a back surface of the second portion facing away from the light emitting surface, wherein the plurality of second optical microstructures are suitable for guiding the ambient light transmitted to the second portion via the connecting portion to the display panel.

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