Display device

Abstract

The application relates to a display device, which comprises a backlight module, an optical guiding module, a display panel and a control module, wherein: the optical guiding module comprises a plurality of optical guiding units, each of which comprises a plurality of liquid crystal molecules and an electrode array; the backlight module comprises a plurality of backlight units, one of which corresponds to at least one optical guiding unit on the optical guiding module and corresponds to one display area on the display panel; and the control module is configured to: when the backlight units emit 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, form a refractive index gradient in the optical guiding unit, and guide the light emitted by the backlight unit to the highlight display area in the display area. Through the technical scheme provided by the application, the halo problem is effectively solved while avoiding brightness loss and maintaining a low cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of display technology, and more particularly to a display device. Background Technology

[0002] Mini LED backlighting solutions divide the LED chip into multiple independent light-control zones and combine them with local dimming technology to improve display contrast. However, due to light diffusion between adjacent light-control zones (such as halo effects), halos appear at the edges of bright areas when displaying high-contrast images (such as white text / lines against a black background), severely affecting the display effect.

[0003] In existing technologies, the light control accuracy can be improved by increasing the number of light control zones, thereby avoiding the halo problem. However, this leads to increased hardware costs and significantly increased process complexity. Another solution is to add physical light-shielding structures (such as barriers or light absorption layers) between the light control zones to block light diffusion, thereby avoiding the halo problem. However, such structures will significantly reduce the brightness utilization rate of the backlight module, causing irreversible brightness loss.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new halo suppression solution that can effectively solve the halo problem while minimizing brightness loss and maintaining low cost. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a display device that effectively solves the halo problem while minimizing brightness loss and maintaining a low cost.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution provided in this application is as follows:

[0007] This 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 disposed on the light-emitting side of the backlight module, and the display panel is disposed on the side of the optical guide module away from the backlight module. The control module is connected to the backlight module, the optical guide module, and the display panel, respectively.

[0008] The optical guiding module includes multiple optical guiding units, each optical guiding unit comprising multiple 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 multiple backlight units, each backlight unit corresponding to at least one optical guiding unit on the optical guiding module and corresponding to a display area on the display panel;

[0009] The control module is configured as follows:

[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 one feasible embodiment of this 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 one feasible embodiment of this application, the electrode array is an interdigitated electrode array.

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

[0014] In one feasible embodiment of this 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 one feasible embodiment of this 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 to the optical guiding unit; wherein, the electric field strength 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 one feasible embodiment of this application, the display area is divided into multiple sub-display areas arranged along a second direction. When any one of the sub-display areas of the display area is the high-brightness display area, the electrode arrays of the n first optical guiding units corresponding to the backlight unit apply a first gradient electric field in the first optical guiding unit, and the electrode arrays of the m second optical guiding units corresponding to the backlight unit apply a second gradient electric field in the second optical guiding unit. The first optical guiding unit is located in the positive direction relative to the sub-display area and closer to the second direction, and the second optical guiding unit is located in the negative direction relative to the sub-display area and closer to the second direction. The electric field strength of the first gradient electric field increases from the positive direction to the negative direction of the second direction, and the electric field strength of the second gradient electric field increases from the negative direction to the positive direction of the second direction. n and m are both non-zero integers.

[0017] In one feasible embodiment of this application, the sub-display area includes multiple pixel units, and the control module includes:

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

[0019] The determining unit is configured to determine, based on the display data, whether each of the sub-display areas in the display area is a highlight display area, thereby determining the brightness distribution of the display area;

[0020] The control unit is 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, so as to guide the light emitted by the backlight unit to the high-brightness display area.

[0021] In one feasible embodiment of this application, the sub-display area includes a plurality of pixel units, the display data includes at least the on / off state data of the pixel units in each of the sub-display areas of the display area, and the determining unit includes:

[0022] The first determining subunit is configured to determine the number of enabled pixel units in each of the sub-display areas based on the on / off state data of the pixel units in each of the sub-display areas; wherein, the enabled pixel unit is the pixel unit whose on / off state is enabled;

[0023] The second determining sub-unit is configured to determine the sub-display area with the largest number of enabled pixel units in the display area as the highlight display area.

[0024] In one feasible embodiment of this application, the determining unit includes:

[0025] The third determining sub-unit is configured to determine the sub-display area where the number of enabled pixel units in the display area is greater than a preset number threshold as the highlight display area.

[0026] The technical solutions provided in this application have the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0027] The display device provided in this application embodiment adds an optical guiding module between the backlight module and the display panel. When a portion of the display area in the display panel corresponding to the backlight module is a high-brightness display area, the electrode array in the corresponding optical guiding unit of the optical guiding module is controlled to form an electric field in the optical guiding unit, causing the liquid crystal molecules in the optical guiding unit to deflect and form a refractive index gradient in the optical guiding unit. The light emitted from the backlight unit is then guided to the high-brightness display area through the optical guiding unit.

[0028] The technical solution provided by the embodiments of this application does not require increasing the number of light control zones to improve light control accuracy, nor does it require adding additional physical light-shielding structures. By controlling the optical guide module, the light of the backlight unit is guided, ensuring that the light emitted by the backlight unit can be focused on the high-brightness display area in the display panel. This effectively solves the halo problem while minimizing brightness loss and maintaining a low cost. Attached Figure Description

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

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0031] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display device provided in an embodiment of this application;

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

[0034] Figure 3 This is a first schematic diagram of liquid crystal molecules in an optical guiding unit of a display device being deflected, provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0035] Figure 4 This is a second schematic diagram illustrating the deflection of liquid crystal molecules in an optical guiding unit of a display device, as provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0036] Figure 5 This is a third schematic diagram showing the deflection of liquid crystal molecules in an optical guiding unit of a display device according to an embodiment of this application.

[0037] Figure 6 This is a fourth schematic diagram of liquid crystal molecules in an optical guiding unit of a display device being deflected, provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0038] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the electric field intensity at different positions and the number of activated pixel units in the sub-display area when the optical guiding unit guides the display device according to an embodiment of this application.

[0039] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

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

[0041] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0042] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of this application. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed.

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

[0044] In order to effectively solve the halo problem while minimizing brightness loss and maintaining low cost, this application provides a display device.

[0045] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display device provided in an embodiment of this application, with reference to... Figure 1 This application provides a display device comprising a backlight module 1, an optical guide module 2, a display panel 3, and a control module 4. The optical guide module 2 is disposed on the light-emitting side of the backlight module 1, and the display panel 3 is disposed on the side of the optical guide module 2 away from the backlight module 1. The control module 4 is connected to the backlight module 1, the optical guide module 2, and the display panel 3, respectively.

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

[0047] Control module 4 is configured as follows:

[0048] When the backlight unit 9 emits light, the electrode array 8 in the optical guiding 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. This causes the liquid crystal molecules 7 in the optical guiding unit 6 to deflect under the action of the electrode array 8, forming a refractive index gradient in the optical guiding unit 6, and guiding the light emitted by the backlight unit 9 to the high-brightness display area in the display area 5.

[0049] Specifically, the display device provided in this application embodiment includes a three-layer structure: a backlight module 1 at the bottom, a display panel 3 at the top, 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 also includes a substrate, driving circuits, and other modules to maintain the basic display functions of the display device.

[0050] Reference Figure 1 The directional markings in the diagram indicate that, with the display device placed horizontally on a horizontal surface and viewed from a frontal perspective, the length direction of the optical guide unit 6 is defined as the first direction, the width direction as the second direction, and the height direction as the third direction. The first, second, and third directions are perpendicular to each other. In subsequent embodiments, the description will be based on a frontal perspective, and the directions will be as described above; therefore, detailed explanations will not be provided further.

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

[0052] In one feasible embodiment of this application, the backlight module 1 may specifically be an LED backlight module 1, and the backlight unit 9 corresponds to the LED backlight partitions divided on the LED backlight module 1, and is composed of multiple LED chips.

[0053] The display panel 3 is divided into multiple display areas 5 based on the correspondence of the backlight units 9. The display panel 3 includes multiple pixel units, which are arranged in multiple pixel rows in a first direction and in a second direction. For a display area 5 on the display panel 3, it contains a portion of multiple adjacent pixel rows.

[0054] A display area 5 is divided into multiple sub-display areas, which are arranged along the second direction, and each sub-display area contains multiple rows of pixels.

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

[0056] The optical guide module 2 is located between the display panel 3 and the backlight module 1. The optical guide module 2 includes multiple optical guide units 6, and one or more optical guide units 6 correspond to a 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 this application, the optical guiding unit 6 may specifically include an electrode array layer located near the backlight module 1 and a liquid crystal molecule layer located near 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 the electrode array 8 applies an electric field to the optical guiding unit 6, the liquid crystal molecules 7 in the optical guiding unit 6 are deflected under the influence of the electric field, forming a certain deflection angle (the angle between the major 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. Simultaneously, the deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecule 7 is also highly correlated with the refractive index at the corresponding position; specifically, the larger 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 connected to the backlight module 1, the optical guide module 2, and the display panel 3, respectively, and controls each optical guide unit 6 in the optical guide module 2. Specifically, the control module 4 is configured to control the electrode array 8 in the optical guide unit 6 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 according to the brightness distribution of the display area 5 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 when any backlight unit 9 is backlit, thereby forming a gradient electric field with uneven electric field intensity distribution in the optical guide unit 6. This causes the liquid crystal molecules 7 in the optical guide unit 6 to deflect under the action of the electrode array 8, and the deflection angle of each liquid crystal molecule 7 is different, forming a refractive index gradient in the optical guide unit 6, thus guiding the light emitted from the backlight unit 9 to the high-brightness display area in the display area 5.

[0060] In one feasible embodiment of this application, the control module 4 includes:

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

[0062] The determining unit is configured to determine whether each sub-display area in the display area 5 is a highlight display area based on the display data, thereby determining the brightness distribution of the display area 5;

[0063] The control unit is 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, so as to guide the light emitted by the backlight unit 9 to the high-brightness display area.

[0064] In one feasible embodiment of this application, the control module 4 can determine the highlight display area in the display area 5 based on pixel-level brightness values.

[0065] Specifically, the control module 4 parses the display data input to the display panel 3, determines 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 high-brightness 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 display data, and can also convert RGB to brightness value as display data.

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

[0068] The first determining sub-unit is configured to determine the number of enabled pixel units in each sub-display area based on the on / off state data of the pixel units in each sub-display area; wherein, the enabled pixel unit is the pixel unit whose on / off state is enabled.

[0069] The second determined sub-unit is the sub-display area with the largest number of enabled pixel units in display area 5, which is then designated as the highlight display area.

[0070] Alternatively, the third sub-unit is configured to determine the sub-display area where the number of enabled pixel units in display area 5 is greater than a preset threshold as the highlighted display area.

[0071] Specifically, the control module 4 acquires the display data of the display area 5, thereby statistically analyzing the on / off state of the pixel units in each sub-display area of ​​the display area 5, determining the number of pixel units that are turned on in each sub-display area, and determining whether the sub-display area is a highlighted display area based on the number of pixel units that are turned on in each sub-display area.

[0072] It is understandable that the pixel units in display panel 3 display images by changing their light transmission state. When a pixel unit is turned on, its corresponding pixel needs to display an image; when a pixel unit is turned off, its corresponding pixel does not display an image. Based on this, the number of pixel units that are turned on can be used to determine whether the corresponding area is actually displaying an image or whether it is displaying a complex, high-brightness image, thereby determining the brightness distribution of display area 5. In this embodiment, the determining unit may include a second determining subunit. For any display area 5, the second determining subunit, based on display data, counts the number of pixel units that are turned on in each sub-display area of ​​the current image, and determines the sub-display area with the most pixel units that are turned on in display area 5 as the high-brightness display area. It is understandable that the second determining subunit will uniquely determine one sub-display area as the high-brightness display area.

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

[0074] The embodiment that determines the brightness distribution of display area 5 based on the activation status of each pixel unit in display area 5 is more convenient to implement than the embodiment that determines the bright display area in display area 5 based on pixel-level brightness values. The control module 4 does not need to perform cumbersome data conversion and calculation, but only needs to perform statistics and comparisons, which simplifies the determination of brightness distribution, reduces the computing power requirement of control module 4, and is easy to implement.

[0075] The technical solution provided by this application embodiment does not require increasing the number of light control zones to improve light control accuracy, nor does it require adding additional physical light-shielding structures. By controlling the optical guide module 2, the light of the backlight unit 9 is guided, ensuring that the light emitted by the backlight unit 9 can be focused on the high-brightness display area in the display panel 3. This effectively solves the halo problem while minimizing brightness loss 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 this application. In one feasible embodiment of this application, the electrode array 8 includes a plurality of conductive strips 81 extending in a first direction, and each conductive strip 81 is uniformly arranged in a second direction to form the electrode array 8.

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

[0078] In one feasible embodiment of this application, the conductive strip 81 located in the middle can specifically generate a voltage gradient that increases from left to right / from right to left through a resistor divider network or a linear drive circuit.

[0079] In one feasible embodiment of this application, the electrode array 8 is specifically an interdigitated electrode array, which consists of two sets of parallel, alternating conductive strips 81. In some specific examples, the conductive strips 81 constituting the interdigitated electrode array can be ITO electrodes, each ITO electrode having a width of 10–50 μm and a spacing of 20–100 μm between any two ITO electrodes.

[0080] In one feasible embodiment of this application, the material of the optical guiding unit 6 is a nematic liquid crystal. The liquid crystal molecules 7 in the nematic liquid crystal are ellipsoidal, and their major axis is along a third direction in the initial state (without being subjected to an electric field).

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

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

[0083] Figure 3 This is a first schematic diagram illustrating the deflection of liquid crystal molecules 7 in an optical guiding unit 6 of a display device according to an embodiment of this application, corresponding to the case where a uniform electric field is applied to the optical guiding unit 6 by the electrode array 8. When a backlight unit 9 corresponds to one optical guiding unit 6, and the display area 5 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 is entirely a high-brightness display area, the light guiding situation of the optical guiding unit 6 for the backlight unit 9 is as follows. Figure 3 As shown, the specific light emission direction of the backlight unit 9 can be referred to Figure 3 The arrow in the diagram illustrates this.

[0084] Specifically, when the control module 4 determines that the display areas 5 corresponding to the backlight units 9 are all high-brightness display areas, the backlight units 9 perform backlighting normally, and the optical guiding unit 6 does not need to guide the light emitted from the backlight units 9. The light emitted from the backlight units 9 is 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 angle of each liquid crystal molecule 7 is the same, and the refractive index is the same at all points in the optical guiding unit 6.

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

[0086] Specifically, similar to the embodiment of applying a uniform electric field described above, when the control module 4 determines that the display area 5 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 is a high-brightness display area, the electrode array 8 may not apply an electric field to the optical guiding unit 6, so that the deflection angle of each liquid crystal molecule 7 is 0. Similarly, the optical guiding unit 6 does not guide the light emitted from the backlight unit 9, and the light emitted from the backlight unit 9 is emitted perpendicular to the first / second direction.

[0087] In one feasible embodiment of this 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 an 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 of the display area 5 in the second direction that is not a high-brightness display area to the side of the display area 5 in the second direction that is a high-brightness display area.

[0088] Figure 4 This is a second schematic diagram illustrating the deflection of liquid crystal molecules 7 in an optical guiding unit 6 of a display device according to an embodiment of this application, corresponding to the case where a gradient electric field is applied to the electrode array 8 in the optical guiding unit 6. When a 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, while the other side in the second direction is not a high-brightness display area (…). Figure 4 When the left side is the highlighted display area and the right side is not the highlighted display area, the specific light emission direction of the backlight unit 9 can be referred to Figure 4 The arrow in the diagram illustrates this.

[0089] Specifically, when the control module 4 determines that the left half of the display area 5 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 (i.e., 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 to the optical guiding unit 6. The electric field strength of the gradient electric field decreases from left to right, and 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 on the leftmost side to the minimum deflection angle on the rightmost side. Since the deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecules 7 is positively correlated with the refractive index of the corresponding position of the liquid crystal molecules 7, the refractive index of the optical guiding unit 6 decreases from left to right, and a refractive index gradient is formed in the optical guiding unit 6. The light emitted from the backlight unit 9 is deflected in the direction of higher refractive index, and the optical guiding unit 6 guides the light emitted from the backlight unit 9 to the left half of the display area 5.

[0091] Figure 5 This is a third schematic diagram illustrating the deflection of liquid crystal molecules 7 in an optical guiding unit 6 of a display device according to an embodiment of this application. It corresponds to another case where the electrode array 8 in the optical guiding unit 6 applies a gradient electric field. 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, while the other side in the second direction is not a high-brightness display area (…). Figure 4 When the right side of the center is the highlighted display area and the left side is not the highlighted display area, the specific light emission direction of the backlight unit 9 can be found in the following reference. Figure 4 The arrow in the diagram illustrates this.

[0092] Specifically, when the control module 4 determines that the right half of the display area 5 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 (i.e., the area between the right 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.

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

[0094] As can be seen, based on the above two embodiments, in the case where one backlight unit 9 corresponds to one optical guiding unit 6, the optical guiding unit 6 guides the light emitted from the backlight unit 9. However, the above embodiments can only guide the light emitted from the backlight unit 9 to any half of the display area 5, which is difficult to adapt to more complex display situations.

[0095] Therefore, in one feasible embodiment of this application, a backlight unit 9 is configured to correspond to multiple optical guiding units 6. In this embodiment, when any sub-display area of ​​the display area 5 is a high-brightness display area, the electrode array 8 of 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 of 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 an optical guiding unit located in the positive direction relative to the sub-display area and closer to the second direction, and the second optical guiding unit is an optical guiding unit located in the negative direction relative to the sub-display area and closer to the second direction, the electric field strength of the first gradient electric field increases from the positive direction to the negative direction of the second direction, and the electric field strength of the second gradient electric field increases from the negative direction to the positive direction of the second direction, and n and m are both non-zero integers.

[0096] Figure 6 This application provides a fourth schematic diagram illustrating the deflection of liquid crystal molecules 7 in an optical guiding unit 6 of a display device. This corresponds to the case where the electrode array 8 in the first optical guiding unit applies a first gradient electric field to the first optical guiding unit, and the electrode array 8 in the second optical guiding unit applies a second gradient electric field to the second optical guiding unit. When the backlight unit 9 corresponds to multiple optical guiding units 6 ( Figure 6 When the display area 5 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 is a high-brightness display area, and the optical guiding unit 6 guides the light emitted from the backlight unit 9 to the backlight unit 9 as follows: Figure 6 As shown, the specific light emission direction of the backlight unit 9 can be referred to Figure 6 The arrow in the diagram illustrates this.

[0097] Specifically, when the control module 4 identifies a sub-display area in the display area 5 as a high-brightness display area, the multiple optical guiding units 6 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 need to guide the light emitted by the backlight unit 9, respectively guiding part of the light emitted by the backlight unit 9 to the location of the high-brightness display area, thereby focusing the light emitted by the backlight unit 9 on the high-brightness display area 5.

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

[0099] Under the combined action of the first optical guiding unit and the second optical guiding unit, the light emitted from the left side of the backlight unit 9 is guided to the right side of the display area 5, and the light emitted from the right side of the backlight unit 9 is guided to the left side of the display area 5. Therefore, when the sub-display area located at the relative center of the display area 5 is a high-brightness display area, the light emitted from the backlight unit 9 is also guided.

[0100] Based on the above embodiments, by making the backlight unit 9 correspond to multiple optical guiding units 6, more precise light guiding is achieved for the backlight unit 9, ensuring that when one of the sub-display areas in the display area 5 is a high-brightness display area, the light emitted by the backlight unit 9 can be focused on that sub-display area, regardless of the position of the sub-display area in the display area 5.

[0101] In the embodiment described above, where a backlight unit 9 corresponds to multiple optical guiding units 6 and light guidance is achieved by applying a gradient electric field, the control module 4 can determine the sub-display area with the largest number of enabled pixel units in the display area 5 as the highlight display area, thereby uniquely identifying a single sub-display area as the highlight display area.

[0102] In one feasible embodiment of this application, in order to achieve more precise light guidance for the backlight unit 9, in addition to increasing the number of optical guiding units 6 corresponding to the backlight unit 9, the control precision 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 high-brightness display area, the electrode array 8 in an optical guiding unit 6 corresponding to the backlight unit 9 applies a non-uniform electric field to the optical guiding unit 6; wherein, the electric field strength of the non-uniform electric field is the largest at the position of the kth sub-display area that is a high-brightness display area, and the smallest at the middle position between the kth and k+1th sub-display areas that are high-brightness display areas, where k is a non-zero integer.

[0104] Figure 7This is a schematic diagram showing the electric field intensity at different positions and the number of activated pixel units in the sub-display area when the optical guiding unit 6 is guiding the display device according to an embodiment of this application.

[0105] Specifically, the control module 4 identifies the sub-display areas at positions A1, A2, A3, and A4 in the display area 5 as high-brightness 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. 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 angle of the liquid crystal molecules 7 located at positions A1, A2, A3, and A4 in the optical guiding unit 6 is the largest, causing the refractive index of the optical guiding unit 6 to change non-uniformly. The refractive index is the largest at positions A1, A2, A3, and A4. The light emitted from both sides of positions A1 / A2 / A3 / A4 of the backlight unit 9 is guided to positions A1 / A2 / A3 / A4, thus guiding the light emitted from the backlight unit 9 to the high-brightness display area 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, which can significantly improve the light guiding effect of the optical guiding unit 6.

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

[0109] It should be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “described” as used herein may also include the plural forms. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and “having” are inclusive and therefore indicate 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 combinations thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not construed as requiring them to be performed in a particular order described or illustrated unless the order of performance is explicitly indicated. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be used.

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

Claims

1. A display device, characterized by comprising: The display device includes a backlight module, an optical guide module, a display panel, and a control module. The optical guide module is disposed on the light-emitting side of the backlight module, and the display panel is disposed on the side of the optical guide module away from the backlight module. The control module is connected to the backlight module, the optical guide module, and the display panel, respectively. The optical guiding module includes multiple optical guiding units, each optical guiding unit comprising multiple 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 multiple backlight units, each backlight unit corresponding to at least one optical guiding unit on the optical guiding module and corresponding to a display area on the display panel; The control module is configured as follows: 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. Among them, the deflection angle of liquid crystal molecules is highly related to the electric field strength. The greater the electric field strength, the greater the deflection angle of liquid crystal molecules, and the smaller the electric field strength, the smaller the deflection angle of liquid crystal molecules. The deflection angle of liquid crystal molecules is also related to the refractive index at the corresponding position. The greater the deflection angle of liquid crystal molecules, the greater the refractive index at the corresponding position, and the smaller the deflection angle of liquid crystal molecules, the smaller the refractive index at the corresponding position.

2. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, 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.

3. The display device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The electrode array is an interdigitated electrode array.

4. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid crystal molecules in the optical guiding unit are made of 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, characterized in that, 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 to the optical guiding unit; wherein, the electric field strength 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.

7. The display device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The display area is divided into multiple sub-display areas arranged along a second direction. When any one of the sub-display areas is the high-brightness display area, the electrode arrays in the n first optical guiding units corresponding to the backlight unit apply a first gradient electric field in the first optical guiding unit, and the electrode arrays in the m second optical guiding units corresponding to the backlight unit apply a second gradient electric field in the second optical guiding unit. The first optical guiding unit is located in the positive direction relative to the sub-display area and closer to the second direction, and the second optical guiding unit is located in the negative direction relative to the sub-display area and closer to the second direction. The electric field strength of the first gradient electric field increases from the positive direction to the negative direction of the second direction, and the electric field strength of the second gradient electric field increases from the negative direction to the positive direction of the second direction. n and m are both non-zero integers.

8. The display device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The control module includes: The acquisition unit is configured to acquire display data of the display area corresponding to the backlight unit when the backlight unit emits light; The determining unit is configured to determine, based on the display data, whether each of the sub-display areas in the display area is a highlight display area, thereby determining the brightness distribution of the display area; The control unit is 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, so as to guide the light emitted by the backlight unit to the high-brightness display area.

9. The display device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The sub-display area includes multiple pixel units, and the display data includes at least the on / off state data of the pixel units in each of the sub-display areas within the display area. The determining unit includes: The first determining subunit is configured to determine the number of enabled pixel units in each of the sub-display areas based on the on / off state data of the pixel units in each of the sub-display areas; wherein, the enabled pixel unit is the pixel unit whose on / off state is enabled; The second determining sub-unit is configured to determine the sub-display area with the largest number of enabled pixel units in the display area as the highlight display area.

10. The display device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The determining unit includes: The third determining sub-unit is configured to determine the sub-display area where the number of enabled pixel units in the display area is greater than a preset number threshold as the highlight display area.

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