Display device

Abstract

The invention relates to a display device which comprises a backlight module, an optical guiding module, a display panel and a control module, the optical guiding module comprises a plurality of optical guiding units, and each optical guiding unit comprises a plurality of liquid crystal molecules and an electrode array; the backlight module comprises a plurality of backlight units, and one backlight unit corresponds to at least one optical guide unit on the optical guide module and corresponds to one display area on the display panel; the control module is configured to control the electrode array in the optical guiding unit corresponding to the backlight unit according to the brightness distribution condition of the display area corresponding to the backlight unit when the backlight unit emits light, a refractive index gradient is formed in the optical guiding unit, and emergent light of the backlight unit is guided to a highlight display area in the display area. Through the technical scheme provided by the invention, the halo problem is effectively solved under the conditions of avoiding brightness loss as much as possible and maintaining relatively low cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of display technology, and in particular to a display device. Background Art

[0002] The mini LED backlight solution improves display contrast by dividing the LED chip into multiple independent light-control zones and combining it with local dimming technology. However, due to the light diffusion of adjacent light-control zones (such as the halo effect), when displaying high-contrast images (such as white text / lines and black background), a halo will appear at the edge of the bright area, seriously affecting the display effect.

[0003] In the prior art, the light control accuracy can be improved by increasing the number of light control zones, thereby avoiding the halo problem. However, this will lead to an increase in hardware costs and a significant increase in process complexity. Another solution is to add a physical shading structure (such as a baffle or a light absorption layer) between the light control zones to block the diffusion of light, thereby avoiding the halo problem. However, such a structure will significantly reduce the brightness utilization rate of the backlight module, causing irreversible brightness loss.

[0004] Therefore, a new halo suppression solution is urgently needed to effectively solve the halo problem while avoiding brightness loss as much as possible and maintaining a low cost. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present application provides a display device to effectively solve the halo problem while avoiding brightness loss as much as possible and maintaining a low cost.

[0006] To solve the above technical problems, the technical solutions provided by this application are as follows:

[0007] The present application provides a display device, which includes a backlight module, an optical guide module, a display panel, and a control module. The optical guide module is arranged on the light-emitting side of the backlight module, the display panel is arranged on a side of the optical guide module away from the backlight module, and the control module is connected to the backlight module, the optical guide module, and the display panel, respectively, wherein:

[0008] The optical guide module includes a plurality of optical guide units, each of which includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules and an electrode array, wherein the liquid crystal molecules are deflected under the action of the electrode array; the backlight module includes a plurality of backlight units, one of which corresponds to at least one of the optical guide units on the optical guide module and corresponds to a display area on the display panel;

[0009] The control module is configured to:

[0010] When the backlight unit emits light, the electrode array in the optical guiding unit corresponding to the backlight unit is controlled according to the brightness distribution of the display area corresponding to the backlight unit, so that the liquid crystal molecules in the optical guiding unit are deflected under the action of the electrode array, forming a refractive index gradient in the optical guiding unit, and guiding the light emitted by the backlight unit to the high-brightness display area in the display area.

[0011] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, the electrode array includes a plurality of conductive strips extending in a first direction, and each of the conductive strips is uniformly arranged in a second direction to form the electrode array; wherein, the first direction is the length direction of the optical guiding unit, and the second direction is the width direction of the optical guiding unit.

[0012] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, the electrode array is an interdigital electrode array.

[0013] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, the material of the optical guiding unit is nematic liquid crystal.

[0014] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, when the entire display area is the high-brightness display area, the electrode array applies a uniform electric field in the optical guiding unit.

[0015] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, when one side of the display area in the second direction is the high-brightness display area and the other side is not the high-brightness display area, the electrode array in one of the optical guiding units corresponding to the backlight unit applies a gradient electric field in the optical guiding unit; wherein, the electric field intensity of the gradient electric field increases from the side of the display area in the second direction that is not the high-brightness display area to the side of the display area in the second direction that is the high-brightness display area.

[0016] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, the display area is divided into a plurality of sub-display areas arranged along the second direction. When any one of the sub-display areas in the display area is the highlighted display area, the electrode array in the corresponding n first optical guiding units of the backlight unit applies a first gradient electric field in the first optical guiding unit, and the electrode array in the corresponding m second optical guiding units of the backlight unit applies the second gradient electric field in the second optical guiding unit; wherein, the first optical guiding unit is the optical guiding unit located in the positive direction of the second direction relative to the sub-display area, the second optical guiding unit is the optical guiding unit located in the negative direction of the second direction relative to the sub-display area, the electric field intensity of the first gradient electric field increases from the positive direction of the second direction to the negative direction of the second direction, the electric field intensity of the second gradient electric field increases from the negative direction of the second direction to the positive direction of the second direction, and both n and m are non-zero integers.

[0017] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, the sub-display area includes a plurality of pixel units, and the control module includes:

[0018] An acquisition unit, configured to acquire display data of the display area corresponding to the backlight unit when the backlight unit emits light;

[0019] A determination unit, configured to determine whether each of the sub-display areas in the display area is the highlighted display area according to the display data, so as to determine the brightness distribution of the display area;

[0020] A control unit, configured to control the electrode array in the optical guiding unit corresponding to the backlight unit according to the brightness distribution of the display area, and direct the light output of the backlight unit to the highlighted display area.

[0021] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, the sub-display area includes a plurality of pixel units, the display data at least includes the switch state data of the pixel units in each of the sub-display areas in the display area, and the determination unit includes:

[0022] A first determination subunit, configured to determine the number of turned-on pixel units in each of the sub-display areas according to the switch state data of the pixel units in each of the sub-display areas; wherein, the turned-on pixel unit is the pixel unit with a turned-on switch state;

[0023] A second determination subunit, configured to determine the sub-display area with the largest number of turned-on pixel units in the display area as the highlighted display area.

[0024] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, the determining unit includes:

[0025] The third determining subunit is configured to determine the sub-display area in which the number of the turned-on pixel units in the display area is greater than a preset number threshold as the highlighted display area.

[0026] The above technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present application has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0027] The display device provided in the embodiment of the present application has an additional optical guide module between the backlight module and the display panel. When a part of the display area in the display panel corresponding to the backlight module is a highlight display area, the electrode array in the corresponding optical guide unit in the optical guide module is controlled to form an electric field in the optical guide unit, so that the liquid crystal molecules in the optical guide unit are deflected, forming a refractive index gradient in the optical guide unit, and guiding the light output of the backlight unit to the highlight display area through the optical guide unit.

[0028] Through the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application, there is no need to increase the number of light control zones to improve the light control accuracy, nor is there any need to add additional physical shading structures. The light guidance of the backlight unit is completed by controlling the optical guide module, ensuring that the light output of the backlight unit can be focused on the highlighted display area in the display panel, thereby effectively solving the halo problem while avoiding brightness loss as much as possible and maintaining a low cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present application.

[0030] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative labor.

[0031] One or more embodiments are exemplarily described by pictures in the corresponding drawings, and these exemplified descriptions do not constitute limitations on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings represent similar elements, and unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings do not constitute proportional limitations.

[0032] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a display device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] Figure 2 A front view of a display device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] Figure 3 The first schematic diagram when the liquid crystal molecules in the optical guiding unit of a display device provided by an embodiment of the present application are deflected;

[0035] Figure 4 The second schematic diagram when the liquid crystal molecules in the optical guiding unit of a display device provided by an embodiment of the present application are deflected;

[0036] Figure 5 The third schematic diagram when the liquid crystal molecules in the optical guiding unit of a display device provided by an embodiment of the present application are deflected;

[0037] Figure 6 The fourth schematic diagram when the liquid crystal molecules in the optical guiding unit of a display device provided by an embodiment of the present application are deflected;

[0038] Figure 7 The corresponding schematic diagram of the electric field strength at different positions - the number of pixel units turned on in the sub - display area when the optical guiding unit of a display device provided by an embodiment of the present application conducts guiding.

[0039] Explanation of reference numerals:

[0040] 1. Backlight module; 2. Optical guiding module; 3. Display panel; 4. Control module; 5. Display area; 6. Optical guiding unit; 7. Liquid crystal molecules; 8. Electrode array; 9. Backlight unit; 81. Conductive strip. Detailed implementation manners

[0041] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are some but not all of the embodiments of the present application. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0042] The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing different structures of the present application. To simplify the disclosure of the present application, components and settings of specific examples are described below. Of course, they are only examples and are not intended to limit the present application. In addition, the present application may repeat reference numerals and / or letters in different examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplification and clarity and does not itself indicate the relationship between various embodiments and / or settings discussed.

[0043] It should be noted that in the accompanying drawings, the sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity of illustration. It is also understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "on" another element or layer, it may be directly on the other element, or there may be an intermediate layer. In addition, it is understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "under" another element or layer, it may be directly under the other element, or there may be more than one intermediate layer or element. In addition, it is also understood that when a layer or element is referred to as being "between" two layers or two elements, it may be the only layer between the two layers or two elements, or there may also be more than one intermediate layer or element. Similar reference numerals throughout the text indicate similar elements.

[0044] In order to effectively solve the halo problem while avoiding brightness loss as much as possible and maintaining a low cost, the present application provides a display device.

[0045] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a display device provided in an embodiment of the present application, referring to Figure 1 , a display device provided in an embodiment of the present application includes a backlight module 1, an optical guide module 2, a display panel 3 and a control module 4, the optical guide module 2 is arranged on the light emitting side of the backlight module 1, the display panel 3 is arranged on the side of the optical guide module 2 away from the backlight module 1, and the control module 4 is connected to the backlight module 1, the optical guide module 2 and the display panel 3 respectively, wherein:

[0046] The optical guide module 2 includes a plurality of optical guide units 6, wherein the optical guide unit 6 includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules 7 and an electrode array 8, wherein the liquid crystal molecules 7 are deflected under the action of the electrode array 8; the backlight module 1 includes a plurality of backlight units 9, wherein one backlight unit 9 corresponds to at least one optical guide unit 6 on the optical guide module 2 and corresponds to one display area 5 on the display panel 3;

[0047] The control module 4 is configured as follows:

[0048] When the backlight unit 9 emits light, the electrode array 8 in the optical guide unit 6 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 is controlled according to the brightness distribution of the display area 5 corresponding to the backlight unit 9, so that the liquid crystal molecules 7 in the optical guide unit 6 are deflected under the action of the electrode array 8, forming a refractive index gradient in the optical guide unit 6, and guiding the light output of the backlight unit 9 to the highlighted display area in the display area 5.

[0049] Specifically, the display device provided by the embodiments of the present application specifically includes a three-layer structure, namely a backlight module 1 at the bottom layer, a display panel 3 at the top layer, and an optical guiding unit 6 between the backlight module 1 and the display panel 3. Of course, in actual implementation scenarios, the display device is also provided with a substrate, a driving circuit, and other modules for maintaining the basic display function of the display device.

[0050] Referring to Figure 1 the direction identifiers in, place the display device horizontally on a horizontal plane and observe it from a front view perspective. Define the length direction of the optical guiding unit 6 as the first direction, the width direction of the optical guiding unit 6 as the second direction, and the height direction of the optical guiding unit 6 as the third direction. The first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular to each other. In subsequent embodiments, descriptions will be made from the front view perspective, and the directions will be based on the above description, so no further detailed description will be provided hereafter.

[0051] The backlight module 1 includes a plurality of backlight units 9. One backlight unit 9 corresponds to one display area 5 on the display panel 3. When displaying in the display area 5, the corresponding backlight unit 9 provides backlight to improve the display effect of the display area 5. Each backlight unit 9 is independent and is controlled by the control module 4 for independent light control.

[0052] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, the backlight module 1 may specifically be an LED backlight module 1, and the backlight unit 9 corresponds to an LED backlight partition divided on the LED backlight module 1 and is composed of a plurality of LED chips.

[0053] The display panel 3 is divided into a plurality of display areas 5 based on the corresponding relationship of the backlight units 9. The display panel 3 includes a plurality of pixel units. Each pixel unit is arranged in a plurality of pixel rows in the first direction, and each pixel row is arranged in the second direction. For a display area 5 on the display panel 3, it includes a part of a plurality of adjacent pixel rows.

[0054] One display area 5 is divided into a plurality of sub-display areas, and these sub-display areas are arranged in the second direction. One sub-display area contains a plurality of pixel rows.

[0055] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, the display panel 3 is an LCD display panel.

[0056] The optical guiding module 2 is located between the display panel 3 and the backlight module 1. The optical guiding module 2 includes a plurality of optical guiding units 6, and one or more optical guiding units 6 correspond to one backlight unit 9.

[0057] The optical guiding unit 6 includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules 7 and an electrode array 8. In a feasible embodiment of the present application, the optical guiding unit 6 may specifically include an electrode array layer close to the backlight module 1 and a liquid crystal molecule layer close to the display panel 3. The electrode array 8 is located in the electrode array layer, and the liquid crystal molecules 7 are located in the liquid crystal molecule layer.

[0058] When an electric field is applied to the electrode array 8 in the optical guiding unit 6, the liquid crystal molecules 7 in the optical guiding unit 6 are deflected under the action of the electric field, forming a certain deflection angle (the angle between the long axis of the liquid crystal molecule 7 and the third direction). The deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecule 7 is highly correlated with the electric field strength. Specifically, the greater the electric field strength, the greater the deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecule 7, and the smaller the electric field strength, the smaller the deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecule 7. At the same time, the deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecule 7 is also highly correlated with the refractive index at the corresponding position. Specifically, the greater the deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecule 7, the greater the refractive index at the corresponding position, and the smaller the deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecule 7, the smaller the refractive index at the corresponding position.

[0059] The control module 4 is respectively connected to the backlight module 1, the optical guiding module 2, and the display panel 3, and controls each optical guiding unit 6 in the optical guiding module 2. The control module 4 is specifically configured to, when any backlight unit 9 emits light, control the electrode array 8 in the optical guiding unit 6 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 according to the brightness distribution of the display area 5 corresponding to the backlight unit 9, form a gradient electric field with uneven electric field strength distribution in the optical guiding unit 6, so that the liquid crystal molecules 7 in the optical guiding unit 6 are deflected under the action of the electrode array 8, and the deflection angles of the liquid crystal molecules 7 are different, form a refractive index gradient in the optical guiding unit 6, and direct the light emitted by the backlight unit 9 to the highlighted display area in the display area 5.

[0060] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, the control module 4 includes:

[0061] An acquisition unit, configured to acquire the display data of the display area 5 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 when the backlight unit 9 emits light;

[0062] A determination unit, configured to determine whether each sub-display area in the display area 5 is a highlighted display area according to the display data, so as to determine the brightness distribution of the display area 5;

[0063] A control unit, configured to control the electrode array 8 in the optical guiding unit 6 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 according to the brightness distribution of the display area 5, and direct the light emitted by the backlight unit 9 to the highlighted display area.

[0064] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, the control module 4 may determine the highlighted display area in the display area 5 based on the pixel-level brightness value.

[0065] Specifically, the control module 4 analyzes the display data input to the display panel 3 to determine the brightness of each pixel unit in the display panel 3, calculates the average pixel brightness of the sub-display areas in each display area 5 based on the brightness of each pixel unit, and then determines the highlighted display area in the display area 5 by comparing the average pixel brightness with a preset brightness threshold.

[0066] In this embodiment, the control module 4 can extract the Y-channel value in the YUV format as the display data, or can also use the RGB-to-brightness value as the display data.

[0067] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, the control module 4 can also determine the brightness distribution of the display area 5 based on the on / off status of each pixel unit in the display area 5. In this embodiment, the determination unit in the control module 4 specifically includes:

[0068] A first determination subunit, configured to determine the number of turned-on pixel units in each sub-display area according to the on / off status data of the pixel units in each sub-display area; wherein, the turned-on pixel unit is a pixel unit with an on / off status of on;

[0069] A second determination subunit, configured to determine the sub-display area with the largest number of turned-on pixel units in the display area 5 as the highlighted display area;

[0070] Or, a third determination subunit, configured to determine the sub-display area in which the number of turned-on pixel units in the display area 5 is greater than a preset number threshold as the highlighted display area.

[0071] Specifically, the control module 4 obtains the display data of the display area 5, thereby counts the on / off status of the pixel units in each sub-display area in the display area 5, determines the number of turned-on pixel units in each sub-display area, and determines whether the sub-display area is a highlighted display area according to the number of turned-on pixel units in each sub-display area.

[0072] It is understandable that the pixel units in the display panel 3 are displayed by changing the light transmittance state. When the pixel unit is turned on, the corresponding pixel point needs to display the picture, and when the pixel unit is turned off, the corresponding pixel point does not display the picture. Based on this, it can be basically determined whether the corresponding area is actually displayed / whether a complex highlight picture is displayed according to the number of pixel units turned on, so that the brightness distribution of the display area 5 can be determined. In this embodiment, the determination unit may include a second determination subunit. For any display area 5, the second determination subunit counts the number of turned-on pixel units in each sub-display area of the current picture based on the display data, and determines the sub-display area with the largest number of pixel units in the switch state of the display area 5 as the highlight display area. It is understandable that the second determination subunit will uniquely determine a sub-display area as the highlight display area.

[0073] In this embodiment, the determination unit may also include a third determination subunit, which, for any display area 5, counts the number of turned-on pixel units in each sub-display area of the current screen based on the display data, and determines the sub-display area of the display area 5 whose number of turned-on pixel units is greater than a preset number threshold as a highlighted display area. It can be understood that the third determination subunit will determine one or more sub-display areas as highlighted display areas.

[0074] Compared with the embodiment of determining the highlight display area in the display area 5 based on the pixel-level brightness value, the embodiment of determining the brightness distribution of the display area 5 based on the activation status of each pixel unit in the display area 5 is more convenient to implement. The control module 4 does not need to perform tedious data conversion and calculation, but only needs to perform statistics and comparison, which simplifies the method of determining the brightness distribution, reduces the computing power requirement of the control module 4, and is easy to implement.

[0075] Through the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application, there is no need to increase the number of light control zones to improve the light control accuracy, nor is there any need to add additional physical shading structures. The light guidance of the backlight unit 9 is completed by controlling the optical guide module 2, ensuring that the light output of the backlight unit 9 can be focused on the highlighted display area in the display panel 3, thereby effectively solving the halo problem while avoiding brightness loss as much as possible and maintaining a low cost.

[0076] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a front view of a display device provided in an embodiment of the present application. In a feasible embodiment of the present application, the electrode array 8 includes a plurality of conductive strips 81 extending in a first direction, and the conductive strips 81 are evenly arranged in a second direction to form the electrode array 8.

[0077] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, to form a gradient electric field in the optical guiding unit 6 through the electrode array 8, voltage extreme values are applied to the conductive strips 81 at both ends, while a voltage intermediate value is applied to the conductive strips 81 in the middle. For example, the conductive strip 81 at the leftmost side applies a minimum voltage of 1V, the conductive strip 81 at the rightmost side applies a maximum voltage of 5V, the conductive strips 81 in the middle apply a voltage intermediate value of 1V - 5V, and the voltage values applied by the conductive strips 81 in the middle increase from left to right, then a gradient electric field with an increasing electric field intensity from left to right is formed in the electrode array 8.

[0078] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, the conductive strips 81 in the middle can specifically generate a voltage gradient that increases from left to right or from right to left through a resistive voltage division network or a linear drive circuit.

[0079] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, the electrode array 8 is specifically an interdigital electrode array, which is composed of two groups of parallel and alternately arranged conductive strips 81. In some specific examples, the conductive strips 81 constituting the interdigital electrode array can specifically be ITO electrodes, and the width of each ITO electrode is 10 - 50 μm, and the spacing between any two ITO electrodes is 20 - 100 μm.

[0080] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, the material of the optical guiding unit 6 is nematic liquid crystal. The liquid crystal molecules 7 in the nematic liquid crystal are ellipsoidal, and their long axes are along the third direction in the initial state (not under the action of an electric field).

[0081] Specifically, the material of the optical guiding unit 6 is a liquid crystal material with a high birefringence. In some practical examples, the material of the optical guiding unit 6 is E7 liquid crystal, and its birefringence Δn > 0.2.

[0082] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, when the entire display area 5 is a high - brightness display area, the electrode array 8 applies a uniform electric field in the optical guiding unit 6.

[0083] Figure 3 This is the first schematic diagram when the liquid crystal molecules 7 in the optical guiding unit 6 of a display device provided by an embodiment of the present application are deflected, corresponding to the case where the electrode array 8 applies a uniform electric field in the optical guiding unit 6. When the backlight unit 9 corresponds to one optical guiding unit 6, and the entire display area 5 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 is a high - brightness display area, the light - guiding situation of the optical guiding unit 6 for the light emitted by the backlight unit 9 is as Figure 3 shown, and the light - emitting direction of the backlight unit 9 can specifically refer to the arrow indication in Figure 3 .

[0084] Specifically, when the control module 4 determines that all the display areas 5 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 are high-brightness display areas, the backlight unit 9 performs backlighting normally, and the optical guiding unit 6 does not need to guide the light emitted by the backlight unit 9. The light emitted by the backlight unit 9 is emitted perpendicular to the first / second direction. At this time, the electrode array 8 applies a uniform electric field in the optical guiding unit 6 to ensure that the deflection angles of the liquid crystal molecules 7 are the same, and the refractive indices at various positions of the optical guiding unit 6 are the same.

[0085] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, when all of the display area 5 is a high-brightness display area, the electrode array 8 does not apply an electric field in the optical guiding unit 6.

[0086] Specifically, similar to the above embodiment of applying a uniform electric field, when the control module 4 determines that all the display areas 5 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 are high-brightness display areas, the electrode array 8 may also not apply an electric field in the optical guiding unit 6, so that the deflection angles of the liquid crystal molecules 7 are all 0, and the optical guiding unit 6 also does not guide the light emitted by the backlight unit 9. The light emitted by the backlight unit 9 is emitted perpendicular to the first / second direction.

[0087] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, when one side of the display area 5 in the second direction is a high-brightness display area and the other side is not a high-brightness display area, the electrode array 8 in one optical guiding unit 6 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 applies a gradient electric field in the optical guiding unit 6; wherein, the electric field strength of the gradient electric field increases from the side where the display area 5 in the second direction is not a high-brightness display area to the side where the display area 5 in the second direction is a high-brightness display area.

[0088] Figure 4 This is the second schematic diagram when the liquid crystal molecules 7 in the optical guiding unit 6 in a display device provided by an embodiment of the present application are deflected, corresponding to the case where the electrode array 8 in the optical guiding unit 6 applies a gradient electric field in the optical guiding unit 6. When the backlight unit 9 corresponds to one optical guiding unit 6, and one side of the display area 5 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 in the second direction is a high-brightness display area and the other side in the second direction is not a high-brightness display area ( Figure 4 in the figure, the left side is a high-brightness display area and the right side is not a high-brightness display area), the light-emitting direction of the backlight unit 9 can be specifically referred to Figure 4 the arrow indication in the figure.

[0089] Specifically, when the control module 4 determines that the left half area of the display area 5 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 (that is, the area between the left edge of the display area 5 and the center line) is a high-brightness display area, the optical guiding unit 6 needs to guide the light emitted by the backlight unit 9.

[0090] At this time, the electrode array 8 applies a gradient electric field in the optical guiding unit 6. The electric field intensity of the gradient electric field decreases from left to right. The deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecules 7 in the optical guiding unit 6 decreases from left to right, gradually changing from the maximum deflection angle at the leftmost side to the minimum deflection angle at the rightmost side. Since the deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecules 7 is positively correlated with the refractive index at the corresponding position of the liquid crystal molecules 7, the refractive index of the optical guiding unit 6 decreases from left to right, forming a refractive index gradient in the optical guiding unit 6. The light emitted by the backlight unit 9 deflects towards the direction with a higher refractive index, and the optical guiding unit 6 guides the light emitted by the backlight unit 9 to the left half area of the display area 5.

[0091] Figure 5 This is the third schematic diagram when the liquid crystal molecules 7 in the optical guiding unit 6 of a display device provided by an embodiment of the present application are deflected, corresponding to another situation where the electrode array 8 in the optical guiding unit 6 applies a gradient electric field in the optical guiding unit 6. When the backlight unit 9 corresponds to an optical guiding unit 6, and one side of the display area 5 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 in the second direction is a high-brightness display area, and the other side in the second direction is not a high-brightness display area ( Figure 4 in this case, the right side is the high-brightness display area and the left side is not the high-brightness display area), the light-emitting direction of the backlight unit 9 can be specifically referred to Figure 4 the arrow indication in.

[0092] Specifically, when the control module 4 determines that the right half area of the display area 5 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 (that is, the area between the right edge and the center line of the display area 5) is a high-brightness display area, the optical guiding unit 6 needs to guide the light emitted by the backlight unit 9.

[0093] At this time, the electrode array 8 applies a gradient electric field in the optical guiding unit 6. The electric field intensity of the gradient electric field decreases from right to left. The deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecules 7 in the optical guiding unit 6 decreases from right to left, gradually changing from the maximum deflection angle at the rightmost side to the minimum deflection angle at the leftmost side. Since the deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecules 7 is positively correlated with the refractive index at the corresponding position of the liquid crystal molecules 7, the refractive index of the optical guiding unit 6 decreases from right to left, forming a refractive index gradient in the optical guiding unit 6. The light emitted by the backlight unit 9 deflects towards the direction with a higher refractive index, and the optical guiding unit 6 guides the light emitted by the backlight unit 9 to the right half area of the display area 5.

[0094] It can be seen that based on the above two embodiments, for the case where one backlight unit 9 corresponds to one optical guiding unit 6, the optical guiding unit 6 realizes the guiding of the light emitted by the backlight unit 9. However, the above embodiments can only realize guiding the light emitted by the backlight unit 9 to any one half of the display area 5, and it is difficult to adapt to more complex display situations.

[0095] Therefore, in a feasible embodiment of the present application, one backlight unit 9 is provided corresponding to a plurality of optical guiding units 6. In this embodiment, when any one of the sub-display areas in the display area 5 is a highlighted display area, the electrode array 8 in the n first optical guiding units corresponding to the backlight unit 9 applies a first gradient electric field in the first optical guiding unit, and the electrode array 8 in the m second optical guiding units corresponding to the backlight unit 9 applies a second gradient electric field in the second optical guiding unit; wherein, the first optical guiding unit is the optical guiding unit located in the positive direction of the second direction relative to the sub-display area, the second optical guiding unit is the optical guiding unit located in the negative direction of the second direction relative to the sub-display area, the electric field intensity of the first gradient electric field increases from the positive direction of the second direction to the negative direction of the second direction, the electric field intensity of the second gradient electric field increases from the negative direction of the second direction to the positive direction of the second direction, and both n and m are non-zero integers.

[0096] Figure 6 This is the fourth schematic diagram when the liquid crystal molecules 7 in the optical guiding unit 6 in a display device provided by an embodiment of the present application are deflected, corresponding to the situation where the electrode array 8 in the first optical guiding unit applies a first gradient electric field in the first optical guiding unit and the electrode array 8 in the second optical guiding unit applies a second gradient electric field in the second optical guiding unit. When the backlight unit 9 corresponds to a plurality of optical guiding units 6 ( Figure 6 in this case, it corresponds to 2 optical guiding units 6), and a certain sub-display area of the display area 5 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 is a highlighted display area, the light guiding situation of the optical guiding unit 6 for the light emitted by the backlight unit 9 is as Figure 6 shown, and the light emitting direction of the backlight unit 9 can specifically refer to the arrow indication in Figure 6 .

[0097] Specifically, when the control module 4 recognizes that a certain sub-display area in the display area 5 is a highlighted display area, the plurality of optical guiding units 6 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 need to guide the light emitted by the backlight unit 9, and respectively guide part of the light emitted by the backlight unit 9 to the position where the highlighted display area is located, so as to focus the light emitted by the backlight unit 9 on the highlighted display area 5.

[0098] At this time, for the first optical guide unit (i.e., the optical guide unit 6 located on the left side of the sub-display area), the electrode array 8 in the first optical guide unit applies a first gradient electric field, and the electric field strength of the first gradient electric field increases from left to right. Based on the same principle as the above-mentioned embodiment, the first optical guide unit guides the light output of the backlight unit 9 to the position of the relatively right half area of the display area 5; for the second optical guide unit (i.e., the optical guide unit 6 located on the right side of the sub-display area), the electrode array 8 in the second optical guide unit applies a second gradient electric field, and the electric field strength of the second gradient electric field increases from right to left. Based on the same principle as the above-mentioned embodiment, the second optical guide unit guides the light output of the backlight unit 9 to the position of the relatively left half area of the display area 5.

[0099] Under the joint action of the first optical guide unit and the second optical guide unit, the left light of the backlight unit 9 is guided to the right of the display area 5, and the right light of the backlight unit 9 is guided to the left of the display area 5. Therefore, when the sub-display area located at the relatively central position of the display area 5 is a highlight display area, the guidance of the light emitted by the backlight unit 9 is also achieved.

[0100] Based on the above embodiment, by making the backlight unit 9 correspond to multiple optical guide units 6, more precise light guiding of the backlight unit 9 is achieved, ensuring that when a sub-display area in the display area 5 is a highlighted display area, the light output of the backlight unit 9 can be concentrated in the sub-display area, no matter where the sub-display area is located in the display area 5.

[0101] In the above-mentioned embodiment in which one backlight unit 9 corresponds to multiple optical guide units 6 and light guiding is achieved by applying a gradient electric field, the control module 4 can determine the sub-display area with the largest number of turned-on pixel units in the display area 5 as the highlighted display area, thereby uniquely determining the only sub-display area as the highlighted display area.

[0102] In a feasible embodiment of the present application, in order to achieve more accurate light guiding to the backlight unit 9, in addition to increasing the number of optical guiding units 6 corresponding to the backlight unit 9, the control accuracy of the electrode array 8 can also be improved.

[0103] In this embodiment, when any sub-display area of the display area 5 is a highlight display area, the electrode array 8 in an optical guide unit 6 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 applies a non-uniform electric field in the optical guide unit 6; wherein the electric field intensity of the non-uniform electric field is the largest at the kth sub-display area position that is the highlight display area, and is the smallest at the middle position between the kth and k+1th sub-display areas that are the highlight display areas, and k is a non-zero integer.

[0104] Figure 7Schematic diagram corresponding to the number of pixel units turned on in the sub-display area with the electric field strength at different positions when the optical guiding unit 6 in the display device provided in the embodiment of the present application conducts guiding.

[0105] Specifically, the control module 4 recognizes that the sub-display areas at positions A1, A2, A3, and A4 in the display area 5 are highlighted display areas. At this time, the control module 4 controls the electrode array 8 in the optical guiding unit 6 to apply a non-uniform electric field, and the electric field strength of this non-uniform electric field is the largest at positions A1, A2, A3, and A4, and the smallest between positions A1 and A2, between positions A2 and A3, and between positions A3 and A4.

[0106] Based on this non-uniform electric field, the deflection angles of the liquid crystal molecules 7 at positions A1, A2, A3, and A4 in the optical guiding unit 6 are the largest, causing the refractive index of the optical guiding unit 6 to change unevenly. The refractive index is the largest at positions A1, A2, A3, and A4, and the light emitted from both sides of the backlight unit 9 at positions A1 / A2 / A3 / A4 is guided to positions A1 / A2 / A3 / A4, guiding the light emitted from the backlight unit 9 to the highlighted display areas in the display area 5.

[0107] Through the above embodiments, more refined light guiding is achieved without increasing the optical guiding unit 6 corresponding to the backlight unit 9, and the light guiding effect of the optical guiding unit 6 can be significantly improved.

[0108] In the above embodiment where one backlight unit 9 corresponds to one optical guiding unit 6 and the light emission guiding is achieved by applying a non-uniform electric field, the control module 4 can determine the sub-display areas where the number of pixel units turned on in the display area 5 is greater than the preset number threshold as the highlighted display areas, so as to determine one or more sub-display areas as the highlighted display areas.

[0109] It should be understood that the terms used in this text are only for the purpose of describing specific example embodiments and are not intended to be limiting. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" as used in this text may also represent the plural form. The terms "include", "comprise", "contain", and "have" are inclusive and thus specify the presence of the stated features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or their combinations. The method steps, processes, and operations described in this text are not to be construed as necessarily requiring them to be executed in the specific order described or illustrated, unless the execution order is clearly indicated. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be used.

[0110] The above description is only a specific implementation manner of the present application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement the present application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present application. Therefore, the present application will not be limited to these embodiments shown herein, but rather will be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. A display device, characterized in that, The display device includes a backlight module, an optical guiding module, a display panel, and a control module. The optical guiding module is disposed on the light-emitting side of the backlight module. The display panel is disposed on a side of the optical guiding module away from the backlight module. The control module is respectively connected to the backlight module, the optical guiding module, and the display panel, wherein: The optical guiding module includes a plurality of optical guiding units, and each optical guiding unit includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules and an electrode array. Among them, the liquid crystal molecules are deflected under the action of the electrode array. The backlight module includes a plurality of backlight units. One backlight unit corresponds to at least one optical guiding unit on the optical guiding module and corresponds to a display area on the display panel. The control module is configured to: When the backlight unit emits light, control the electrode array in the optical guiding unit corresponding to the backlight unit according to the brightness distribution of the display area corresponding to the backlight unit, so that the liquid crystal molecules in the optical guiding unit are deflected under the action of the electrode array, form a refractive index gradient in the optical guiding unit, and direct the light emitted by the backlight unit to the high-brightness display area in the display area.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein The electrode array includes a plurality of conductive bars extending in a first direction, and each conductive bar is uniformly arranged in a second direction to form the electrode array. Among them, the first direction is the length direction of the optical guiding unit, and the second direction is the width direction of the optical guiding unit.

3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein The electrode array is an interdigital electrode array.

4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein The material of the optical guiding unit is nematic liquid crystal.

5. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that When the entire display area is the high-brightness display area, the electrode array applies a uniform electric field in the optical guiding unit.

6. The display device according to claim 2, wherein When one side in the second direction of the display area is the high-brightness display area and the other side is not the high-brightness display area, the electrode array in one optical guiding unit corresponding to the backlight unit applies a gradient electric field in the optical guiding unit. Among them, the electric field intensity of the gradient electric field increases from the side where the second direction of the display area is not the high-brightness display area to the side where the second direction of the display area is the high-brightness display area.

7. The display device according to claim 6, wherein The display area is divided into a plurality of sub-display areas arranged along the second direction. When any one of the sub-display areas in the display area is the highlighted display area, the electrode array in the n first optical guiding units corresponding to the backlight unit applies a first gradient electric field in the first optical guiding unit, and the electrode array in the m second optical guiding units corresponding to the backlight unit applies the second gradient electric field in the second optical guiding unit; wherein, the first optical guiding unit is the optical guiding unit located in the positive direction of the second direction relative to the sub-display area, the second optical guiding unit is the optical guiding unit located in the negative direction of the second direction relative to the sub-display area, the electric field intensity of the first gradient electric field increases from the positive direction of the second direction to the negative direction of the second direction, the electric field intensity of the second gradient electric field increases from the negative direction of the second direction to the positive direction of the second direction, and both n and m are non-zero integers.

8. The display device according to claim 7, wherein The control module includes: an acquisition unit configured to acquire the display data of the display area corresponding to the backlight unit when the backlight unit emits light; a determination unit configured to determine whether each of the sub-display areas in the display area is the highlighted display area according to the display data, so as to determine the brightness distribution of the display area; a control unit configured to control the electrode array in the optical guiding unit corresponding to the backlight unit according to the brightness distribution of the display area, and direct the light output of the backlight unit to the highlighted display area.

9. The display device according to claim 8, wherein The sub-display area includes a plurality of pixel units, the display data at least includes the switch state data of the pixel units in each of the sub-display areas in the display area, and the determination unit includes: a first determination subunit configured to determine the number of turned-on pixel units in each of the sub-display areas according to the switch state data of the pixel units in each of the sub-display areas; wherein, the turned-on pixel unit is the pixel unit with the switch state being turned on; a second determination subunit configured to determine the sub-display area with the largest number of turned-on pixel units in the display area as the highlighted display area.

10. The display device according to claim 9, wherein The determination unit includes: a third determination subunit configured to determine the sub-display area with the number of turned-on pixel units in the display area greater than a preset number threshold as the highlighted display area.

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