Methods and arrangements for improving performance of sensors under display

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for improving the performance of a sensor under a display. An electronic device may include a display and a sensor located below the display. The display may include an array of sub-pixels for displaying an image to a user of the electronic device. At least a portion of the array of sub-pixels may be selectively removed in a pixel removal area to increase the transmittance of light through the display to the sensor. The pixel removal area may include a plurality of pixel-free areas without thin film transistor structures, without power supply lines, with continuous open areas due to rerouted row / column lines, in part without touch circuitry, optionally including dummy contacts, and / or with a selectively patterned display layer.

Description

[0001] Related application citations

[0002] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with international application number PCT / US2020 / 027195, international application date April 8, 2020, date of entry into the Chinese national phase on October 21, 2021, Chinese national application number 202080030352.5, and invention name “Method and configuration for improving the performance of sensors under displays”.

[0003] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 825,978, filed on March 20, 2020, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 837,628, filed on April 23, 2019, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Background Art

[0004] The present disclosure relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly to electronic devices having displays.

[0005] Electronic devices often include displays. For example, an electronic device may have an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display based on organic light-emitting diode pixels. In this type of display, each pixel includes a light-emitting diode and a thin-film transistor that controls the application of a signal to the light-emitting diode to generate light. The light-emitting diode may include an OLED layer positioned between an anode and a cathode.

[0006] There is a trend towards bezel-less electronic devices with full-screen displays. However, these devices may still need to include sensors such as cameras, ambient light sensors, and proximity sensors to provide other device capabilities. Since the display now covers the entire front of the electronic device, the sensors will have to be placed under the display stack. However, in practice, the amount of light transmission through the display stack is very low (i.e., transmission may be less than 20% in the visible spectrum), which severely limits the sensing performance under the display.

[0007] It is in this context that the implementation scheme of this article is generated. Summary of the Invention

[0008] An electronic device may include a display and an optical sensor formed below the display. A pixel removal area on the display may at least partially overlap with the sensor. The pixel removal area may include a plurality of non-pixel areas, each non-pixel area not containing a thin film transistor. The plurality of non-pixel areas are configured to increase the transmittance of light through the display to the sensor. In one suitable arrangement, half of all display sub-pixels in the pixel removal area may be removed to increase the transmittance of light passing through the display to the sensor. Typically, 10% to 90% of all display sub-pixels in the pixel removal area may be removed to increase the transmittance of light passing through the display to the sensor.

[0009] According to one embodiment, a subset of all display sub-pixels in a pixel removal region can be removed by iteratively eliminating the nearest neighboring sub-pixels of the same color. A display may include more than one pixel removal region, having the same or different sizes / shapes. The pixel removal region may cover the entire edge of the display. The pixel removal region may cover the corner of the display. The pixel removal region may cover a notch area in the display. The pixel removal region may also cover the entire display area. The pixel removal region can optionally cover any portion of the display.

[0010] The plurality of non-pixel areas may also be free of vertical power wiring traces. If desired, at least some of the horizontal and vertical control lines in the plurality of non-pixel areas are rerouted to provide a continuous open area that reduces the amount of diffraction of light passing through the display to the sensor. Each of the plurality of non-pixel areas may also be free of dummy contacts, or may optionally include dummy contacts to help provide emission current uniformity in the pixel-removed area.

[0011] The electronic device may further include a conductive touch sensor grid formed on the display. In one suitable arrangement, the conductive touch sensor grid is not removed from the pixel removal area. In another suitable arrangement, the conductive touch sensor grid is completely removed from the pixel removal area. In yet another suitable arrangement, the conductive touch sensor grid is only partially removed from the pixel removal area. The display may further include a cover layer that is selectively patterned in the pixel removal area to increase the transmittance of light through the display to the sensor. The cover layer may be a display layer selected from the group consisting of a substrate protection layer, a gate dielectric layer, an inorganic passivation layer, and an organic pixel defining layer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device with a display and one or more sensors according to one embodiment.

[0013] Figure 2Ais a schematic diagram of an illustrative display having a light-emitting element according to one embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2B is a circuit diagram of an exemplary display pixel according to one embodiment.

[0015] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative display stackup at least partially covering a sensor according to one embodiment.

[0016] Figures 4A to 4D is a top view illustrating various pixel removal schemes for improving optical transmission according to some embodiments.

[0017] Figure 5A is a top layout diagram showing how red subpixels can be systematically removed according to one embodiment.

[0018] Figure 5B is an illustration of how, according to one embodiment, Figure 5A The top layout diagram further systematically removes additional red sub-pixels from the arrangement.

[0019] Figure 6A and Figure 6B The following is a diagram showing a method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5A Illustration of an exemplary pixel removal scheme for the process shown.

[0020] Figure 6C is a diagram illustrating non-uniform sub-pixel omission according to one embodiment.

[0021] Figure 6D is a diagram illustrating another exemplary pixel removal scheme according to one embodiment.

[0022] Figure 6E is a diagram illustrating a vertical pixel removal scheme according to one embodiment.

[0023] Figure 6F is an illustration of pixel arrangement after two iterations of pixel removal, according to one embodiment.

[0024] Figure 6G is an illustration of a pixel arrangement from which more green sub-pixels have been removed, according to one embodiment.

[0025] Figure 6H is an illustration of non-pentile pixel arrangement after pixel removal, according to one embodiment.

[0026] 7A to 7Fis a front view of an electronic device display according to some embodiments, illustrating how the display can have one or more localized areas where pixels are selectively removed using the scheme of Figures 4 to 6.

[0027] Figure 7G is a cross-sectional side view of an electronic device display according to one embodiment, illustrating how the display can have one or more localized regions where pixels are selectively removed at curved edges.

[0028] Figure 8A is a top layout diagram showing how sub-pixel transistors can be selectively removed to increase transmittance according to one embodiment.

[0029] Figure 8B is a top layout diagram showing how the power lines on the removed transistors can also be omitted to further increase transmittance according to one embodiment.

[0030] Figure 8C is a top layout diagram showing how horizontal and vertical routing lines can be rerouted to provide larger continuous openings to reduce optical diffraction according to one embodiment.

[0031] Figure 8D is a top layout diagram showing how sub-pixel structures may be repositioned along a single row according to one embodiment.

[0032] Figure 8E is a top layout diagram showing how the size of a sub-pixel structure can be expanded according to one embodiment.

[0033] Figure 8F is a top layout diagram illustrating how an opaque mask may be used to define an aperture opening according to one embodiment.

[0034] Figure 9A is a top layout diagram showing an exemplary touch conductive mesh circuit formed over a pixel removed area according to one embodiment.

[0035] Figure 9B is a top layout diagram showing how the touch conductive grid circuitry may be partially removed over the pixel removal area according to one embodiment.

[0036] Figure 10A is a top layout diagram showing how the area where the sub-pixel transistors have been removed lacks dummy contacts according to one embodiment.

[0037] Figure 10B is a top layout diagram showing how areas where sub-pixel transistors have been removed include dummy contacts according to one embodiment.

[0038] Figure 10C is a graph of emission current versus gate-source voltage, illustrating how the presence of a virtual contact can help improve emission current distribution, according to one embodiment.

[0039] Figure 11 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary display stackup showing how at least some of the cover layers within the display stackup can be selectively patterned to improve optical transmittance, according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Figure 1 1 shows an exemplary electronic device of the type that may have a display. Electronic device 10 may be a computing device such as a laptop computer, a computer monitor including an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a cellular phone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device, a smaller device (such as a wristwatch device, a pendant device, a headphone or earpiece device, a device embedded in glasses or other equipment worn on a user's head, or other wearable or miniature device), a display, a computer display including an embedded computer, a computer display not including an embedded computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, an embedded system (such as a system in which electronic equipment with a display is installed in an information kiosk or automobile), or other electronic equipment. Electronic device 10 may have the shape of a pair of glasses (e.g., a support frame), may be formed into a housing having the shape of a helmet, or may have other configurations for facilitating mounting and securing components of one or more displays on a user's head or near their eyes.

[0041] like Figure 1 As shown, electronic device 10 may include control circuitry 16 for supporting the operation of device 10. Control circuitry 16 may include storage devices, such as hard drive storage devices, non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically programmable read-only memory configured to form a solid-state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static random access memory or dynamic random access memory), etc. Processing circuitry in control circuitry 16 may be used to control the operation of device 10. The processing circuitry may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors, power management units, audio chips, application-specific integrated circuits, etc.

[0042] Input-output circuitry in device 10, such as input-output devices 12, may be used to allow data to be provided to device 10, and to allow data to be provided from device 10 to external devices. Input-output devices 12 may include buttons, joysticks, scroll wheels, touchpads, keypads, keyboards, microphones, speakers, tone generators, vibrators, cameras, sensors, light-emitting diodes and other status indicators, data ports, etc. A user may control the operation of device 10 by supplying commands through the input resources of input-output devices 12, and may receive status information and other output from device 10 using the output resources of input-output devices 12.

[0043] Input-output device 12 may include one or more displays, such as display 14. Display 14 may be a touch screen display including a touch sensor for collecting touch input from a user, or display 14 may be insensitive to touch. The touch sensor of display 14 may be based on an array of capacitive touch sensor electrodes, an acoustic touch sensor structure, a resistive touch component, a force-based touch sensor structure, a light-based touch sensor, or other suitable touch sensor arrangements. The touch sensor for display 14 may be formed by electrodes formed on a common display substrate with the display pixels of display 14, or may be formed by a separate touch sensor panel that overlaps with the pixels of display 14. If desired, display 14 may be insensitive to touch (i.e., the touch sensor may be omitted). Display 14 in electronic device 10 may be a heads-up display that can be viewed without requiring the user to move away from a typical viewpoint, or may be a head-mounted display incorporated into a device worn on the user's head. If desired, display 14 may also be a holographic display for displaying holograms.

[0044] Control circuitry 16 may be used to run software, such as operating system code and application programs, on device 10. During operation of device 10, software running on control circuitry 16 may display images on display 14.

[0045] The input-output device 12 may also include one or more sensors 13, such as force sensors (e.g., strain gauges, capacitive force sensors, resistive force sensors, etc.), audio sensors such as microphones, touch and / or proximity sensors such as capacitive sensors (e.g., two-dimensional capacitive touch sensors associated with a display, and / or touch sensors forming buttons, touchpads, or other input devices not associated with a display), and other sensors. According to some embodiments, the sensor 13 may include optical sensors such as optical sensors that emit and detect light (e.g., optical proximity sensors such as transmissive reflective optical proximity structures), ultrasonic sensors, and / or other touch sensors and / or proximity sensors, monochrome and color ambient light sensors, image sensors, fingerprint sensors, temperature sensors, proximity sensors and other sensors for measuring three-dimensional contactless gestures ("air gestures"), pressure sensors, sensors for detecting position, orientation and / or motion (e.g., accelerometers, magnetic sensors (such as compass sensors), gyroscopes and / or inertial measurement units that include some or all of these sensors), health sensors, radio frequency sensors, depth sensors (e.g., structured light sensors and / or depth sensors based on stereo imaging devices), optical sensors (such as self-mixing sensors and light detection and ranging (lidar) sensors that collect time-of-flight measurements), humidity sensors, moisture sensors, gaze tracking sensors and / or other sensors. In some arrangements, device 10 may use sensors 13 and / or other input-output devices to capture user input (e.g., buttons may be used to capture button press input, a touch sensor overlapping the display may be used to capture user touch screen input, a trackpad may be used to capture touch input, a microphone may be used to capture audio input, an accelerometer may be used to monitor when a finger contacts an input surface and, therefore, may be used to capture finger press input, etc.).

[0046] Display 14 may be an organic light-emitting diode display or may be a display based on other types of display technology. Device configurations in which display 14 is an organic light-emitting diode display are sometimes described herein as examples. However, this is merely illustrative. Any suitable type of display may be used if desired. Generally speaking, display 14 may have a rectangular shape (i.e., display 14 may have a rectangular footprint and a rectangular perimeter edge extending around the rectangular footprint) or may have other suitable shapes. Display 14 may be planar or may have a curved profile.

[0047] Figure 2A A top view of a portion of display 14 is shown in FIG. Figure 2AAs shown, display 14 may have an array of pixels 22 formed on a substrate. Pixels 22 may receive data signals via signal paths such as data lines D and may receive one or more control signals via control signal paths such as horizontal control lines G (sometimes referred to as gate lines, scan lines, emission control lines, etc.). There may be any suitable number of rows and columns of pixels 22 in display 14 (e.g., dozens or more, hundreds or more, or thousands or more). Each pixel 22 may have a light-emitting diode 26 that emits light 24 under the control of a pixel control circuit formed by a thin-film transistor circuit, such as a thin-film transistor 28 and a thin-film capacitor. Thin-film transistor 28 may be a polysilicon thin-film transistor, a semiconductor oxide thin-film transistor (such as an indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) transistor), or a thin-film transistor formed from other semiconductors. Pixels 22 may include light-emitting diodes of different colors (e.g., red, green, and blue) to provide display 14 with the ability to display color images, or may be monochrome pixels.

[0048] Display driver circuitry may be used to control the operation of pixels 22. Display driver circuitry may be formed from integrated circuits, thin-film transistor circuitry, and / or other suitable circuitry. Figure 2A The display driver circuit 30 may include a circuit for communicating with system control circuits such as Figure 1 The communication circuit 32 can be formed by traces on a flexible printed circuit or other cables. During operation, the control circuit (e.g., Figure 1 Control circuitry 16 of display 14 may provide display driver circuitry 30 with information about images to be displayed on display 14.

[0049] To display an image on display pixels 22, display driver circuitry 30 may provide image data to data lines D, while simultaneously issuing clock signals and other control signals to supporting display driver circuitry, such as gate driver circuitry 34, via paths 38. Display driver circuitry 30 may also provide clock signals and other control signals to gate driver circuitry 34 on opposite edges of display 14, if desired.

[0050] Gate driver circuitry 34 (sometimes referred to as row control circuitry) can be implemented as part of an integrated circuit and / or can be implemented using thin-film transistor circuitry. Horizontal control lines G in display 14 can carry gate line signals, such as scan line signals, emission enable control signals, and other horizontal control signals for controlling each row of display pixels 22. There can be any suitable number of horizontal control signals for each row of pixels 22 (e.g., one or more row control signals, two or more row control signals, three or more row control signals, four or more row control signals, etc.).

[0051] The area of ​​display 14 where display pixels 22 are formed is sometimes referred to herein as the active area. Electronic device 10 has an outer housing with a peripheral edge. The area surrounding the active area and within the peripheral edge of device 10 is the border area. Images can only be displayed to the user of the device within the active area. It is generally desirable to minimize the border area of ​​device 10. For example, device 10 may be provided with a full-screen display 14 that extends across the entire front face of the device. If desired, display 14 may also wrap around the edges of the front face, allowing at least a portion of the lateral edges or at least a portion of the back surface of device 10 to be used for display purposes.

[0052] Figure 2B FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an exemplary organic light emitting diode display pixel 22 in the display 14. Figure 2B As shown, the display pixel 22 may include a storage capacitor Cst and associated pixel transistors, such as a semiconductor oxide transistor Toxide, a drive transistor Tdrive, a data loading transistor Tdata, a first emission transistor Tem1, a second emission transistor Tem2, and an anode reset transistor Tar. Although the transistor Toxide is formed using a semiconductor oxide (e.g., a transistor having an n-type channel formed from a semiconductor oxide such as indium gallium zinc oxide or IGZO), the other transistors may be thin film transistors formed from a semiconductor such as silicon (e.g., a polysilicon channel deposited using a low temperature process, sometimes referred to as "LTPS" or low temperature polysilicon). Semiconductor oxide transistors exhibit lower leakage than silicon transistors, so implementing the transistor Toxide as a semiconductor oxide transistor will help reduce flicker (e.g., by preventing current from leaking away from the gate terminal of the drive transistor Tdrive).

[0053] In another suitable arrangement, transistors Toxide and Tdrive may be implemented as semiconductor oxide transistors, while the remaining transistors Tdata, Tem1, Tem2, and Tar are LTPS transistors. Transistor Tdrive acts as a drive transistor and has a threshold voltage that is critical to the emission current of pixel 22. Since the threshold voltage of transistor Tdrive may experience hysteresis, forming the drive transistor as a top-gate semiconductor oxide transistor may help reduce hysteresis (for example, a top-gate IGZO transistor experiences a smaller Vth hysteresis than a silicon transistor). If desired, any of the remaining transistors Tdata, Tem1, Tem2, and Tar may be implemented as a semiconductor oxide transistor. Typically, any one of transistors Tdrive, Tdata, Tem1, Tem2, and Tar may be an n-type (i.e., n-channel) or p-type (i.e., p-channel) silicon thin film transistor. If desired, pixel 22 may include more or less than six transistors and / or may include more or less than one internal capacitor.

[0054] Display pixel 22 may include an organic light emitting diode (OLED) 204. A positive supply voltage VDDEL may be provided to positive power supply terminal 200, and a ground supply voltage VSSEL may be provided to ground power supply terminal 202. Positive supply voltage VDDEL may be 3V, 4V, 5V, 6V, 7V, 2V to 8V, or any suitable positive supply voltage level. Ground supply voltage VSSEL may be 0V, -1V, -2V, -3V, -4V, -5V, -6V, -7V, or any suitable ground or negative supply voltage level. The state of drive transistor Tdrive controls the amount of current flowing from terminal 200 to terminal 202 through diode 204, and therefore controls the amount of emitted light from display pixel 22. Organic light emitting diode 204 may have an associated parasitic capacitance C OLED (not shown).

[0055] Terminal 209 can be used to provide an anode reset voltage Var to help turn off diode 204 when diode 204 is not in use. Therefore, terminal 209 is sometimes called an anode reset or initialization line. Figure 2A The control signals of the row driver circuit 34 are provided to control terminals such as row control terminals 212, 214-1, 214-2 and 214-3. Row control terminal 212 can be used as an emission control terminal (sometimes referred to as an emission line or emission control line), and row control terminals 214-1, 214-2 and 214-3 can be used as a first scan control terminal, a second scan control terminal and a third scan control terminal (sometimes referred to as a scan line or scan control line). Emission control signal EM can be provided to terminal 212. Scan control signals SC1, SC2 and SC3 can be applied to scan terminals 214-1, 214-2 and 214-3, respectively. Data input terminals such as data signal terminal 210 are coupled to Figure 2A The data terminals 210 may be connected to corresponding data lines D for receiving image data for the display pixels 22. The data terminals 210 may also be referred to as data lines.

[0056] exist Figure 2BIn the example shown in FIG. 1 , transistors Tem1, Tdrive, Tem2, and OLED 304 can be coupled in series between power supply terminal 200 and power supply terminal 202. Specifically, first emission control transistor Tem1 can have a source terminal coupled to positive power supply terminal 200, a gate terminal receiving emission control signal EM2 via emission line 212, and a drain terminal (labeled Node1). The terms "source" and "drain" of a transistor are sometimes used interchangeably and can therefore be referred to as "source-drain" terminals. Drive transistor Tdrive can have a source terminal coupled to Node1, a gate terminal (labeled Node2), and a drain terminal (labeled Node3). Second emission control transistor Tem2 can have a source terminal coupled to Node3, a gate terminal also receiving emission control signal EM via emission line 212, and a drain terminal (labeled Node4) coupled to ground power supply terminal 202 via light emitting diode 204. Configured in this manner, the emission control signal EM may be asserted during the emission phase to turn on transistors Tem1 and Tem2 to allow current to flow through the light emitting diode 204 .

[0057] The storage capacitor Cst may have a first terminal coupled to the positive power supply line 200 and a second terminal coupled to Node2. Image data loaded into the pixel 22 may be at least partially stored on the pixel 22 by using the capacitor Cst to maintain the charge throughout the emission phase. The transistor Toxide may have a source terminal coupled to Node2, a gate terminal configured to receive a scan control signal SC1 via the scan line 214-1, and a drain terminal coupled to Node3. The signal SC1 may be asserted to turn on the transistor Toxide, thereby shorting the drain terminal and the gate terminal of the transistor Tdrive. The transistor configuration in which the gate terminal and the drain terminal are shorted is sometimes referred to as being "diode connected."

[0058] Data loading transistor Tdata may have a source terminal coupled to data line 210, a gate terminal configured to receive scan control signal SC2 via scan line 214-2, and a drain terminal coupled to Node1. Configured in this manner, signal SC2 can be asserted to turn on transistor Tdata, which will allow the data voltage from data line 210 to be loaded onto Node1. Transistor Tar may have a source terminal coupled to Node4, a gate terminal configured to receive scan control signal SC3 via scan line 214-3, and a drain terminal coupled to initialization line 209. Configured in this manner, scan control signal SC3 can be asserted to turn on transistor Tar, which drives Node4 to an anode reset voltage level Var. If desired, the anode reset voltage Var on line 209 can be dynamically biased to different levels during operation of pixel 22.

[0059] Devices 10 having a full-face display 14 that covers the entire front face of the device may necessitate mounting sensor 13 below display 14 . Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative display stackup of display 14 at least partially covering a sensor, according to one embodiment. Figure 3 As shown, the display stack may include a backing film 300 and a substrate, such as a substrate 302 formed on the backing film 300. The substrate 302 may be formed of glass, metal, plastic, ceramic, sapphire, or other suitable substrate materials. In some arrangements, the substrate 302 may be an organic substrate formed of polyimide (PI), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) (as examples). The surface of the substrate 302 may optionally be covered with one or more buffer layers (e.g., an inorganic buffer layer, such as a silicon oxide layer, a silicon nitride layer, etc.).

[0060] A thin film transistor (TFT) layer 304 may be formed over substrate 302. TFT layer 304 may include thin film transistor circuitry, such as thin film transistors, thin film capacitors, associated routing circuitry, and other thin film structures formed within a plurality of metal routing layers and dielectric layers. An organic light emitting diode (OLED) layer 306 may be formed over TFT layer 304. OLED layer 306 may include a diode cathode layer, a diode anode layer, and an emissive material interposed between the cathode layer and the anode layer.

[0061] The circuits formed in TFT layer 304 and OLED layer 306 can be protected by encapsulation layer 308. For example, encapsulation layer 308 can include a first inorganic encapsulation layer, an organic encapsulation layer formed on the first inorganic encapsulation layer, and a second inorganic encapsulation layer formed on the organic encapsulation layer. Encapsulation layer 308 formed in this manner can help prevent moisture and other potential contaminants from damaging the conductive circuits covered by layer 308.

[0062] One or more polarizing films 312 may be formed over encapsulation layer 308 using adhesive 310. Adhesive 310 may be implemented using an optically clear adhesive (OCA) material that provides high transmittance. One or more touch layers 316 implementing the touch sensor functionality of touch screen display 14 may be formed over polarizing films 312 using adhesive 314 (e.g., an OCA material). For example, touch layer 316 may include horizontal touch sensor electrodes and vertical touch sensor electrodes that together form a capacitive touch sensor electrode array. Finally, the display stack may be covered by a cover glass layer 320 formed over touch layer 316 using additional adhesive 318 (e.g., an OCA material). Cover glass 320 may serve as an outer protective layer for display 14.

[0063] Still refer to Figure 3, the sensor 13 may be formed below the display stack within the electronic device 10. Figure 1 As described, sensor 13 may be an optical sensor, such as a camera (e.g., an infrared camera), a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, a fingerprint sensor, or other light-based sensor. In such cases, the performance of sensor 13 depends on the transmission of light through the display stack, as indicated by arrow 350. However, typical display stacks have fairly limited transmission characteristics. For example, more than 80% of light in the visible spectrum may be lost when traveling through the display stack, making sensing beneath display 14 challenging.

[0064] Each of the multiple layers in the display stack contributes to reducing light transmission to sensor 13. Specifically, the dense thin-film transistors and associated routing structures in TFT layer 304 of the display stack contribute significantly to the low transmission. According to one embodiment, at least some of the display pixels can be selectively removed in an area of ​​the display stack directly above sensor 13. The area of ​​display 14 that at least partially covers or overlaps sensor 13 from which at least a portion of the display pixels have been removed is sometimes referred to as a "pixel-removed area." Each pixel-removed area may still have pixels, but only with a lower density of sub-pixels. Removing display pixels in the pixel-free area (e.g., removing transistors and / or capacitors associated with one or more sub-pixels) can significantly help increase transmission and improve the performance of sensor 13 beneath the display. Thus, the pixel-removed area can have a first sub-pixel density, while the remainder of the display (often collectively referred to as the active area) can exhibit a second ("native") sub-pixel density that is greater than the first sub-pixel density. The native sub-pixel density of the active area can be at least two times, three times, four times, one to five times, or one to ten times the sub-pixel density of the pixel-removed area.

[0065] Figures 4A to 4D is a top view showing various pixel removal areas for improving optical transmission according to some embodiments. As an example, display 14 may generally include a repeating pixel group 400 including a red (R) sub-pixel, a green (G) sub-pixel, and a blue (B) sub-pixel. Figure 4A As shown, each pixel group 400 may include two rows of color subpixels, wherein the top row includes BGRG subpixels in that order, and wherein the bottom row includes RGBG subpixels in that order. This particular pattern is merely illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the present invention. If desired, other color display patterns may be implemented in display 14, and the display may include subpixels of other colors (e.g., cyan subpixels, magenta subpixels, yellow subpixels, transparent subpixels, etc.).

[0066] exist Figure 4AIn the example shown in FIG4 , every other pixel group 400 has been removed according to a checkerboard pattern. The stippled areas illustrate where the subpixels would be if the removal scheme had not been implemented, but are now at least partially devoid of thin-film transistor circuitry corresponding to the removed display subpixels. Each individual stippled area can be referred to as a non-pixel area, a pixel-free area, or a pixel-missing area. This type of pixel removal scheme can remove up to 50% of all available display subpixels.

[0067] exist Figure 4A In , each non-pixel region represents eight removed sub-pixels. Figure 4B Another pixel removal scheme is shown, where each dotted non-pixel area represents 12 removed sub-pixels in another checkerboard pattern. This type of pixel removal scheme can also remove up to 50% of all available display sub-pixels. Figure 4C Yet another pixel removal scheme is shown, in which some dotted pixel-free areas represent four removed sub-pixels, while other dotted pixel-free areas represent only two removed sub-pixels in a repeating mosaic-like pattern. This type of pixel removal scheme can also remove up to 50% of all available display sub-pixels. Figure 4D Yet another pixel removal scheme is shown in each dotted pixel missing region, which represents 12 removed sub-pixels while removing more than 50% of all available display sub-pixels from the entire pixel removed region.

[0068] Generally, the amount of pixel removal in the pixel removal area should be carefully selected to maximize light transmission through the display stack while ensuring that the effective pixels per inch (PPI) remains high enough so that a user of device 10 will not be able to visually notice any undesirable display artifacts near the pixel removal area over which sensor 13 may be located. Figures 4A to 4DThe exemplary pixel removal areas are merely illustrative. If desired, other pixel removal arrangements may be implemented wherein up to 10% of the display subpixels have been removed in the pixel removal area, up to 20% of the display subpixels have been removed, up to 30% of the display subpixels have been removed, up to 40% of the display subpixels have been removed, up to 50% of the display subpixels have been removed (i.e., the subpixel density of the pixel removal area may be half the subpixel density of the native active area), 0 to 50% of the display subpixels have been removed, 10 to 50% of the display subpixels have been removed, 20 to 50% of the display subpixels have been removed, 30 to 50% of the display subpixels have been removed, 51 to 90% of the display subpixels have been removed, or more than 50% of the display subpixels have been removed (i.e., the subpixel density of the pixel removal area may be less than half the subpixel density of the native active area) to achieve a desired level of optical transmittance through the display stackup.

[0069] Figures 4A to 4D The exemplary pixel removal scheme shown in the embodiments may not provide a uniform sub-pixel distribution in all directions across the surface of display 14. To provide a uniform sub-pixel distribution across the display surface, a smart pixel removal process may be implemented that systematically eliminates the nearest sub-pixels of the same color (e.g., nearest neighbors of the same color may be removed). Figure 5A is a top layout diagram showing how red subpixels can be systematically removed according to one embodiment. Figure 5A Blue and green sub-pixels are omitted from the figures to help avoid obscuring the embodiments of the present invention.

[0070] like Figure 5A As shown, display 14 may be initially configured with an array of red subpixels 22R. The pixel removal process may involve selecting a given subpixel, identifying the closest or proximal neighboring subpixels (based on distance from the selected subpixel), and then eliminating / omitting those identified subpixels from the final pixel removal area. For example, subpixel 22R-1 may represent a first selected subpixel. The two closest subpixels may then be marked for elimination (as indicated by the "X" markings). Subpixel 22R-2 may represent a second selected subpixel. The four closest subpixels (including the two previously marked subpixels) may be marked for elimination. The pixel removal process may be performed across the entire display pixel array for subpixels of all colors.

[0071] Figure 5A The resulting sub-pixel array after one iteration of pixel removal is shown. If desired, additional iterations of sub-pixel removal can be performed to further increase transmittance at the expense of lower pixel density. Figure 5BThe resulting subpixel array is shown after another iteration of pixel removal has been performed (e.g., by again eliminating the second-order results of the nearest neighboring subpixels). Any suitable number of iterations may be performed if desired. Systematically removing subpixels in this manner can provide uniform color balance while maintaining a high PPI.

[0072] Figure 6A shows how to use the combined Figure 5A The type of process described is used to remove sub-pixels of various colors. Figure 6A As shown, each pixel group 600 may include two rows of color subpixels, wherein the top row includes RGBG subpixels in that order, and wherein the bottom row includes BGRG subpixels in that order. Specifically, in each pixel group 600, the red subpixel, the green subpixel, and the first green subpixel may be removed from the first row, while only the second green subpixel may be removed from the second row. The final arrangement of the pixel removal areas achieved using this method is shown in FIG. Figure 6B As shown in Figure 6B As shown, some dotted pixel-dropout regions represent three consecutive sub-pixels that are removed, while other pixel-dropout regions represent only one sub-pixel that is removed. This type of pixel-dropout scheme can also remove 50% of all available display sub-pixels in the pixel-dropout region (e.g., the pixel density of the pixel-dropout region can be half the native pixel density of the active area).

[0073] Figure 6C Another suitable arrangement is shown, wherein Figure 6A The additional blue sub-pixel is removed from the configuration. Figure 6CAs shown, all blue sub-pixels are removed from every other pixel group 600. In other words, more blue sub-pixels may be removed or omitted relative to either green or red sub-pixels (i.e., the density of blue sub-pixels is lower than the density of red sub-pixels in the pixel removal area). This example of uneven sub-pixel removal / omission targeting blue sub-pixels is merely illustrative and is not intended to limit this embodiment. If desired, more green sub-pixels may be omitted relative to the blue / red sub-pixels, more red sub-pixels may be omitted relative to the blue / green sub-pixels, or other uneven sub-pixel removal schemes may be implemented. In other suitable embodiments, the degree of omission of all different colored sub-pixels may vary, which will affect the density of each sub-pixel. As an example, more blue sub-pixels may be removed than green sub-pixels, and more green sub-pixels may be removed than red sub-pixels (i.e., blue sub-pixels have the highest removal rate and therefore have the lowest sub-pixel density, while red sub-pixels have the lowest removal rate). As another example, more blue subpixels may be removed than red subpixels, and more red subpixels may be removed than green subpixels (i.e., blue subpixels have the highest removal rate, while green subpixels have the lowest removal rate and therefore have the highest subpixel density). As yet another example, more green subpixels may be removed than blue subpixels, and more blue subpixels may be removed than red subpixels (i.e., green subpixels have the highest omission rate, while red subpixels have the lowest omission rate). Other arrangements may also be implemented.

[0074] Figure 6B The examples of are illustrative only, where each individual sub-pixel is shown as a rectangular region having edges parallel to the edge of the display. If desired, each sub-pixel region may have edges that are angled or rotated relative to the edge of the display (e.g., see Figure 6D ).exist Figure 6D In the embodiment of the present invention, the edge of the display can be parallel to the X axis or the Y axis. The front face of the display can be parallel to the XY plane so that a user of the device is viewing the front face of the display in the Z direction. Figure 6D Section 610 shows the native subpixel arrangement before removal. Section 612 shows how every other subpixel is removed for each color - using an "X" to mark the removed subpixels). Section 614 shows the final pixel configuration with 50% of the subpixels removed.

[0075] exist Figure 6D In the example shown, sub-pixels are removed so that there are horizontal stripes of empty pixel areas (e.g., see continuous stripe area 615 without sub-pixels in portion 614). This is merely illustrative. If desired, sub-pixels can also be removed to produce vertical stripes of empty pixel areas (e.g., see continuous stripe area 617 without sub-pixels in portion 614). Figure 6E ).

[0076] As above combined Figure 5B As described, multiple iterations of pixel removal may be performed. Figure 6F is an illustration of the pixel arrangement after two iterations of pixel removal. Figure 6D Compared to the configuration in section 614, Figure 6F The resulting configuration has an even smaller sub-pixel density (e.g., by again eliminating the nearest neighboring sub-pixels, the second-order result may have only half the number of sub-pixels compared to the first-order result). In other words, after two iterations of pixel removal, 75% of the original native sub-pixels may be removed. Any suitable number of iterations may be implemented if desired. Systematically removing sub-pixels in this manner can provide uniform color balance while maintaining a high PPI.

[0077] As above combined Figure 6C As shown, non-uniform sub-pixel omission can be achieved. Figure 6G is a diagram of a pixel arrangement with more green sub-pixels removed (e.g., a second round of removal may be performed on only green sub-pixels). Figure 6D Compared to the configuration in section 614, Figure 6G The configuration has the same number of blue and red subpixels, but only half the number of green subpixels. Since the native pixel group has two green subpixels for each red and blue subpixel pair, eliminating the nearest green neighbor twice can help balance the total number of green, red, and blue subpixels (e.g., the total number of remaining red, green, and blue subpixels can be the same). In other words, in the pixel-removed area, the density of blue subpixels is equal to the density of blue subpixels, and equal to the density of red subpixels. If desired, the remaining green subpixels can optionally be enlarged in size to help compensate for the reduction in number.

[0078] Figure 6D The native RGBG / BGRG sub-pixel arrangement shown in portion 610 of can sometimes be referred to as having a "pentile" arrangement. The exemplary pixel removal schemes described herein can also be applied to non-pentile or straight pixel arrangements, if desired. Figure 6H is a diagram of the arrangement of non-pentile pixels after pixel removal. Figure 6H As shown, the remaining number of blue sub-pixels, red sub-pixels, and green sub-pixels is the same, but the size of the blue sub-pixel area can be larger than the size of the green sub-pixel area, and the size of the green sub-pixel area can be larger than the size of the red sub-pixel area. This is merely illustrative. Generally, the sizes of the sub-pixel areas of different colors can be adjusted to achieve optimal display performance.

[0079] In general, display subpixels may be partially removed from any area of ​​display 14 . 7A to 7Fis a front view illustrating how display 14 according to certain embodiments may have one or more localized regions in which pixels are selectively removed using the scheme of FIGS. 4-6 . Figure 7A The example of FIG1 shows each local pixel-removed area 700 that is physically separated from each other (i.e., each pixel-removed area 700 is discontinuous). The term "active area" may refer to an area of ​​display 14 that is outside of and does not overlap with the pixel-removed area. For example, each local area 700 may correspond to three different sensors formed below display 14. Figure 7B The example of shows a continuous pixel-removed region 702 formed along the top border of display 14 , which may be appropriate when there are many optical sensors positioned near the top edge of device 10 . Figure 7C The example of shows pixel-removed areas 704 formed at corners of display 14. In some arrangements, the corners of display 14 where pixel-removed areas 704 are located may be rounded or have angles of approximately 90°. Figure 7D The example of shows pixel-removed area 706 formed only in a central portion along a top edge of device 10 (ie, the pixel-removed area covers the sunken notch area in the display). Figure 7E Another example is shown in which pixel-removed area 708 and pixel-removed area 710 may have different shapes and sizes. Figure 7F Another suitable example of a pixel removal region covering the entire display surface is shown. These examples are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present invention. If desired, any portion or portions of the display that overlap with an optical-based sensor or other sub-display electronic component can be designated as a pixel removal region / area.

[0080] In yet another suitable arrangement, pixel-removed regions may be formed at curved edge portions of the display. Figure 7G is a cross-sectional side view of display 14 showing curved or bent peripheral edge region 20. User 750 can view the front of display 14 by looking in the direction of arrow 752, which is parallel to the Z direction. The front of display 14 is parallel to the XY plane. Figure 7G As shown, a pixel removed region 714 may be formed in the curved edge portion 20. In general, one or more edges of a device may be curved or bent, and one or more pixel removed regions can optionally be formed in each curved edge portion.

[0081] Figure 8A It shows that according to Figure 6A and Figure 6BA top layout diagram illustrates how a pixel removal scheme can selectively remove subpixels from pixel group 600 to increase transmittance. The areas labeled "Subpixels Removed" correspond to pixel-free regions that are completely devoid of the thin-film transistors and capacitors that would be present if the subpixels had not been removed. Removing the thin-film transistor structure, which may include active silicon or other semiconductor material, associated source-drain contacts, and thin-film capacitor terminals, can help improve light transmittance through the display stack in the pixel-free regions.

[0082] like Figure 8A As shown, the red, green, and blue subpixels have been removed from the upper portion of pixel group 600 , while only the rightmost green subpixel has been removed from the lower portion of pixel group 600 . Figure 8A Also shown are various gate (G) lines (e.g., horizontal control lines or row control lines) and data (D) lines (e.g., vertical control lines or column control lines) routed across the thin-film transistors associated with each display subpixel. Furthermore, power lines carrying the supply voltage ELVDD may also be routed in the vertical column direction. If desired, the power lines may also or alternatively be routed horizontally or diagonally across the surface of the display.

[0083] If necessary, Figure 8A The pixel structure can be optionally rotated or angled relative to the edge of the display parallel to the X-axis or Y-axis. As an example, Figure 8A The pixel arrangement can be rotated 45 degrees relative to the X axis. If necessary, the pixel structure can be rotated at other suitable angles (e.g., 30 degrees, 60 degrees, 90 degrees, 1 to 89 degrees, etc.).

[0084] exist Figure 8A In the example of , the power lines (see, for example, the wider vertical wiring traces) are still routed over the non-pixel area, which helps to reduce the overall optical transmittance. Figure 8B In another suitable arrangement, as exemplified in FIG, power lines may be selectively removed or omitted from pixel-free regions such as regions 850 and 851 (eg, from each region where a sub-pixel should be removed). Figure 8B As shown, the wider ELVDD wiring traces are absent and are no longer routed through the non-pixel area 850 and the non-pixel area 851. Even though the ELVDD wiring lines are shown as being divided into multiple segments in the vertical direction, the different power segments are still connected together using a conductive power grid 810 formed in a higher wiring layer than the ELVDD wiring lines. Interconnecting the separate power line segments using the power grid 810 allows all remaining sub-pixels to be properly powered. Selectively eliminating the power wiring traces from the non-pixel areas can help to further improve transmittance in the entire pixel removed area. Figure 8BIn the example of FIG, there are still horizontal gate lines and vertical data lines routed over non-pixel regions 850 and non-pixel regions 851, which may help diffraction of light passing through these regions. In some embodiments, these conductive traces can be rerouted to provide larger continuous openings in the non-pixel regions (e.g., see FIG. Figure 8C ).like Figure 8C As shown, the gate lines G' and data lines D' can be routed in a more circuitous manner to obtain a larger opening area. Routing the control signals in this manner reduces diffraction, but at the expense of reduced transmission.

[0085] exist Figure 8A and Figure 8B In the figure, the diamond-shaped area corresponds to the OLED of each color sub-pixel. Figure 8B , thin film transistors associated with the blue, green, and red sub-pixels may be formed in region 856 overlapping with the corresponding OLEDs, while the thin film transistor associated with the right green sub-pixel may be formed in region 858. Since TFT region 856 and TFT region 858 are discontinuous with each other, non-pixel region 850 and non-pixel region 851 are also discontinuous with each other.

[0086] Figure 8D Another suitable arrangement is shown in which the thin film transistor associated with a single green sub-pixel (i.e., the upper right green sub-pixel in pixel group 600) is shifted or relocated to region 851 so that pixel group 600 can have a continuous pixel-free region 860. The OLED of the green sub-pixel can remain unchanged. In other words, all TFT structures are formed in row region 862, while row region 860 can be substantially free of TFT structures to facilitate a larger continuous opening, thereby improving transmittance.

[0087] flows through the driver transistor (e.g., Figure 2B The amount of current drawn by the transistors Tdrive in the OLED may be relatively high for the remaining sub-pixels within the pixel removal area. To help mitigate potential aging effects associated with high drive current levels, the size of the remaining sub-pixels may be increased (e.g., the size of the OLED and / or some associated transistors may be increased). Figure 8E In an example, the remaining blue sub-pixel B', green sub-pixel G', and red sub-pixel R' OLEDs can be relatively large compared to OLEDs in other portions of the display having a native sub-pixel density (i.e., relative to the display pixels in the normal active area). Enlarging the OLEDs can reduce current density, which helps extend diode life. If pixel transistors are enlarged, transistors such as the drive transistors can have their width increased and / or gate length reduced to help mitigate any potential accelerated aging effects due to high drive current levels.

[0088] Figure 8F Another suitable arrangement is shown, showing how to define the aperture opening using an opaque mask such as mask 870. Mask 870 can be formed using existing metal wiring layers, pixel definition layers (e.g., black pixel definition layers), and / or other suitable opaque layers. Figure 8F As shown, opaque mask 870 can have openings, such as opening 872, aligned with corresponding pixel-free areas (i.e., continuous areas from which sub-pixels have been removed). Typically, opening 872 can have a predetermined shape (e.g., a rectangular window, a circular window, an oval window, an elliptical window, etc.) that is configured to help control the diffraction pattern of light passing through the opening.

[0089] In addition to the thin film transistor structure, the touch layer 316 ( Figure 3 ) may also contribute significantly to low transmission through the display stack. Figure 9A is a top layout diagram showing an exemplary touch conductive grid circuit 900 formed over a pixel removal area according to an embodiment. Figure 9A As shown, the touch grid 900 is not removed (i.e., the touch grid 900 completely overlaps the pixel removal area), so touch functionality is not reduced. At the other extreme, the entire touch grid 900 can be removed from the entire pixel removal area (i.e., the touch grid and the pixel removal area are non-overlapping), which provides the highest optical transmission while sacrificing a loss of touch functionality in the pixel removal area. However, completely removing the grid 900 may result in a significant difference in contrast between the pixel removal area and the surrounding normal display area. For example, the pixel removal area where the touch grid 900 is completely eliminated may appear more reflective than the surrounding area, which may or may not be acceptable.

[0090] Figure 9B is a top layout diagram showing how the touch conductive grid circuit 900' is partially removed on the pixel removal area according to another suitable arrangement. Figure 9B As shown, touch grid 900' may be present on actual display sub-pixels, but may not be present on pixel-free areas where sub-pixels have been intelligently removed. This partial removal of touch circuitry in the pixel-removed areas can provide improved optical transmittance while providing partial touch functionality and reduced contrast between the pixel-removed areas and surrounding areas.

[0091] Figure 10Ais a top layout diagram according to one embodiment, showing how dummy contacts are missing from non-pixel areas (e.g., area 1000) where sub-pixel transistor structures have been removed. The complete absence of dummy contacts in area 1000 helps maximize light transmittance because the presence of dummy contacts can still block a certain amount of light. According to another suitable arrangement, non-pixel area 1000 can actually include some dummy contacts even though the underlying transistors have been removed. While the presence of dummy contacts slightly reduces transmittance, including dummy contacts (which can be formed from polysilicon material) helps provide better polysilicon uniformity during manufacturing.

[0092] Polysilicon uniformity can affect transistor current distribution, such as Figure 10C shown. Figure 10C is a graph of emission current (I) versus gate-source voltage (Vgs). Curve 1002 may represent the region adjacent to Figure 10A The current distribution of the active p-channel transistor in the region 1000 in FIG. 1 is shown, while the curve 1004 may represent the current distribution of the active p-channel transistor in the region 1000 in FIG. 1 . Figure 10B 1000. Curve 1004 provides a more ideal current behavior, while curve 1002 provides a shifted version of the ideal curve. Thus, including dummy contacts in non-pixel areas can help maintain transistor current uniformity across the display.

[0093] Figure 11 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary display stackup showing how at least some of the cover layers within the display stackup can be selectively patterned to further improve optical transmittance. Figure 11 Similar to Figure 3 but expanded on the TFT layer 304. For example, Figure 11 10. The TFT layer 304 is shown as comprising a TFT gate dielectric layer 1100, an inorganic passivation layer 1102 formed on the TFT gate dielectric layer 1100, one or more organic planarization layers 1104 formed on the inorganic passivation layer 1102, and an organic pixel defining layer 1106 formed on the organic planarization layer 1104. In addition, a protective layer such as a substrate inorganic protective film 303 may be formed between the substrate 302 and the TFT layer 304. In certain embodiments, at least layers 303, 1100, 1102, and / or 1106 (typically a cover layer covering the entire display surface) may be selectively patterned or thinned in the pixel removal areas to further improve optical transmittance. If desired, other cover display layers may also be selectively patterned / thinned to help increase the transmittance of light through the display stack.

[0094] According to one embodiment, an electronic device is provided, comprising a display and a sensor located below the display, the display having pixels formed in an active area, the display including a pixel removal area that at least partially overlaps with the sensor, the active area having a first pixel density, and the pixel removal area having a second pixel density that is less than the first pixel density.

[0095] According to another embodiment, the pixel-removed area includes a plurality of non-pixel areas, each of the plurality of non-pixel areas has no thin film transistor, and the plurality of non-pixel areas are configured to increase signal transmittance through the display to the sensor.

[0096] According to another embodiment, each of the plurality of non-pixel areas also has no power supply line.

[0097] According to another embodiment, the horizontal and vertical control lines in the plurality of pixel-free areas are rerouted to provide a continuous open area that reduces the amount of diffraction of light that passes through the display to the sensor.

[0098] According to another embodiment, each of the plurality of pixel-free regions includes a plurality of rows of continuous open areas within the pixel-removed region.

[0099] According to another embodiment, an electronic device includes an opaque mask having openings aligned with a plurality of pixel-free areas.

[0100] According to another embodiment, the second pixel density is half the first pixel density.

[0101] According to another embodiment, the second pixel density is less than half the first pixel density.

[0102] According to another embodiment, the display includes an additional pixel-removed region that is physically separated from the pixel-removed region.

[0103] According to another embodiment, the additional pixel removed area has a different size than the pixel removed area.

[0104] According to another embodiment, the pixel removed area overlaps the entire edge of the display.

[0105] According to another embodiment, the pixel removed areas overlap with corners of the display.

[0106] According to another embodiment, the pixel removed area overlaps a curved edge of the display.

[0107] According to another embodiment, the pixel removed area overlaps with the sunken notch area in the display.

[0108] According to another embodiment, the pixel-removed area overlaps the entire surface of the display.

[0109] According to another embodiment, the pixel-removed area includes first sub-pixels of a first color and second sub-pixels of a second color, and in the pixel-removed area, a density of the first sub-pixels is different from a density of the second sub-pixels.

[0110] According to another embodiment, the pixel-removed area includes blue sub-pixels and red sub-pixels, and in the pixel-removed area, a density of the blue sub-pixels is lower than a density of the red sub-pixels.

[0111] According to another embodiment, the pixel-removed area includes green sub-pixels, blue sub-pixels, and red sub-pixels, and in the pixel-removed area, the density of blue sub-pixels is equal to the density of blue sub-pixels and equal to the density of red sub-pixels.

[0112] According to another embodiment, the pixels in the active area include a first subpixel and the pixel-removed area includes a second subpixel having a larger diode than the first subpixel of the active area to mitigate aging.

[0113] According to another embodiment, an electronic device includes a grid of conductive touch sensors formed above a display, the conductive touch sensors overlapping pixel-removed areas.

[0114] According to another embodiment, an electronic device includes a conductive touch sensor grid formed above a display, the conductive touch sensor grid not overlapping pixel-removed areas.

[0115] According to another embodiment, the pixel-removed area includes a plurality of non-pixel areas, each of the plurality of non-pixel areas lacking a dummy contact.

[0116] According to another embodiment, the pixel-removed area includes a plurality of non-pixel areas, and each of the plurality of non-pixel areas includes a dummy contact configured to provide emission current uniformity in the pixel-removed area.

[0117] According to another embodiment, the display includes a covering layer that is selectively patterned in the pixel removal area to increase the transmittance of light through the display to the sensor, and the covering layer is a display layer selected from the group consisting of a substrate protection layer, a gate dielectric layer, an inorganic passivation layer, and an organic pixel defining layer.

[0118] According to one embodiment, a display is provided, comprising pixels formed in an active area and pixels formed in a given area within the active area, the pixels in the active area being formed at a first pixel density, and the pixels in the given area being formed at a second pixel density less than the first pixel density to increase the transmittance of light passing through the given area.

[0119] According to one embodiment, a device is provided that includes a display stackup having a plurality of cover display layers and an optical sensor at least partially covered by the display stackup, at least some of the cover display layers being patterned to increase light transmission through the display stackup to the optical sensor.

[0120] The foregoing is intended to be illustrative only, and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the embodiments described. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented independently or in any combination.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising: a display having first pixels of a first pixel density arranged in an active area of ​​the display; as well as a sensor located below the display, wherein: The display further includes a sensor area at least partially overlapping the sensor; The sensor area includes a second pixel density of second pixels, the second pixel density being less than the first pixel density; The sensor area also includes a non-pixel area without a thin film transistor; as well as The display further includes an opaque mask having openings aligned with the non-pixel areas, respectively. 2 . The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the second pixel includes a blue sub-pixel and a green sub-pixel that is smaller than the blue sub-pixel. 3 . The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the second pixel includes a blue sub-pixel and a red sub-pixel that is smaller than the blue sub-pixel. 4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second pixel includes a first number of blue sub-pixels and a second number of red sub-pixels equal to the first number of blue sub-pixels. 5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second pixel includes a first number of blue sub-pixels and a second number of green sub-pixels greater than the first number of blue sub-pixels. 6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second pixel includes a first number of red sub-pixels and a second number of green sub-pixels that is greater than the first number of red sub-pixels.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the display further comprises: a power line coupled to the second pixel and having an end terminating in the non-pixel area; as well as A data line or a gate line is coupled, the data line or the gate line being coupled to the second pixel and having one or more turns disposed along a peripheral edge of the non-pixel area.

8. An electronic device comprising: a display having first pixels of a first pixel density arranged in an active area of ​​the display; a sensor positioned below the display, wherein the display further comprises a sensor region at least partially overlapping the sensor, wherein the sensor region comprises second pixels at a second pixel density that is less than the first pixel density, and wherein the sensor region further comprises a non-pixel region that is free of thin film transistors; as well as A conductive touch sensor is formed over the display, wherein the conductive touch sensor includes a conductive touch sensor grid structure formed over the second pixel and a grid-free area aligned with the pixel-free area.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the second pixel comprises: blue subpixel; as well as A green sub-pixel that is smaller than the blue sub-pixel or a red sub-pixel that is smaller than the blue sub-pixel. 10 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the second pixel comprises a first number of blue sub-pixels and a second number of red sub-pixels equal to the first number of blue sub-pixels. 11 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the second pixel comprises a first number of blue sub-pixels and a second number of green sub-pixels greater than the first number of blue sub-pixels. 12 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the second pixel includes a first number of red sub-pixels and a second number of green sub-pixels that is greater than the first number of red sub-pixels.

13. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the display further comprises: a power line coupled to the second pixel and having an end terminating in the non-pixel area; as well as A data line or a gate line is coupled, the data line or the gate line being coupled to the second pixel and having one or more turns disposed along a peripheral edge of the non-pixel area.

14. An electronic device comprising: a display having first pixels of a first pixel density arranged in an active area of ​​the display; as well as A sensor is positioned below the display, wherein the display further comprises a sensor area that at least partially overlaps the sensor, wherein the sensor area comprises second pixels at a second pixel density that is less than the first pixel density, and wherein the sensor area further comprises a pixel-free area having a virtual contact configured to provide emission current uniformity in the sensor area. 15 . The electronic device according to claim 14 , wherein the second pixel comprises a blue sub-pixel and a green sub-pixel that is smaller than the blue sub-pixel. 16 . The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the second pixel comprises a blue sub-pixel and a red sub-pixel that is smaller than the blue sub-pixel. 17 . The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the second pixel comprises a first number of blue sub-pixels and a second number of red sub-pixels equal to the first number of blue sub-pixels. 18 . The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the second pixel comprises a first number of blue sub-pixels and a second number of green sub-pixels greater than the first number of blue sub-pixels. 19 . The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the second pixel comprises a first number of red sub-pixels and a second number of green sub-pixels greater than the first number of red sub-pixels.

20. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the display further comprises: a power line coupled to the second pixel and having an end terminating in the non-pixel area; as well as A data line or a gate line is coupled, the data line or the gate line being coupled to the second pixel and having one or more turns disposed along a peripheral edge of the non-pixel area.

21. A display, comprising: forming a first pixel at a first pixel density in an active area of ​​the display, wherein the first pixel includes green subpixels at a first subpixel density and blue subpixels at a second subpixel density different from the first subpixel density; and A second pixel of a second subpixel density is formed in a given area within the active area, wherein the second pixel includes a green subpixel of a third subpixel density and a blue subpixel of a fourth subpixel density equal to the third subpixel density.

Images