Display panel and display device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a display panel and a display device, the display panel is provided with a main display area and a virtual key area located at the edge of the main display area, the display panel comprises a first liquid crystal box and a second liquid crystal box, the projection of the first liquid crystal box on the display panel at least covers the virtual key area, and the projection of the second liquid crystal box on the display panel at least covers the virtual key area. The projection of the second liquid crystal box on the display panel coincides with the main display area. The first liquid crystal box comprises an opposed substrate, a first array substrate and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer located between the opposed substrate and the first array substrate, a first pixel electrode is arranged on the first array substrate, and a first common electrode is arranged on the opposed substrate; the first pixel electrode and the first common electrode are used for controlling the cholesteric liquid crystal layer to be switched between a reflection state and a scattering state; the second liquid crystal box is used for controlling gray scale display of pictures in the main display area. The first liquid crystal box adopting the cholesteric liquid crystal is arranged in the virtual key area, so that the key icons can be displayed by utilizing ambient light, and the backlight power consumption of the virtual key area is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of displays, in particular to a display panel and a display device. Background Art

[0002] Liquid crystal display (LCD) has the advantages of good image quality, small size, light weight, low driving voltage, low power consumption, no radiation and relatively low manufacturing cost, and it dominates the field of flat panel display. As electronic products are rapidly developing towards lightness, thinness and miniaturization, various portable electronic devices such as smart phones and tablet computers almost all use LCD as display terminals. Among them, the complexity and information density of automobile information systems are increasing, which makes LCD also used for displays inside automobiles.

[0003] Take the in-vehicle display screen that people use widely in daily life as an example. Figure 1 This is a plan view of a vehicle display screen in the prior art, please refer to Figure 1 The structure of the vehicle display screen generally includes a module frame and a display panel (i.e., a vehicle display screen) assembled on the module frame. The vehicle display screen has a main display area 101 and a virtual key area 102 located at the edge of the main display area 101. The virtual key area 102 is arranged on the left side of the vehicle display screen, i.e., close to the main driving seat, so as to facilitate the driver to operate. The vehicle display screen is arranged in the main display area 101, and is generally a liquid crystal panel. The virtual key area 102 is usually provided with Home key, return key, menu key, volume adjustment key and other keys. The virtual key area 102 of the existing vehicle display screen is usually achieved through LED light source, patterned semi-transparent ink and full light-shielding ink to realize the display effect of key icons, but LED light source has been used to realize the display effect of key icons, and its power consumption is relatively high; in addition, due to the limitation of the semi-transparent ink material, the transmittance of the semi-transparent ink material in the virtual key area 102 is about 10%, and the transmittance is poor, which affects the display effect. Utility Model Content

[0004] In order to overcome the shortcomings and deficiencies in the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a display panel and a display device to solve the problem in the prior art that the transmittance of the display screen in the virtual key area is poor, resulting in high power consumption.

[0005] The purpose of the utility model is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0006] The utility model provides a display panel, the display panel having a main display area and a virtual key area located at the edge of the main display area, the display panel comprising a first liquid crystal box and a second liquid crystal box, the projection of the first liquid crystal box on the display panel at least covers the virtual key area, and the projection of the second liquid crystal box on the display panel overlaps with the main display area;

[0007] The first liquid crystal box comprises an opposing substrate, a first array substrate arranged opposite to the opposing substrate, and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer located between the opposing substrate and the first array substrate, the first array substrate is provided with a first pixel electrode, the opposing substrate is provided with a first common electrode matched with the first pixel electrode, and the first pixel electrode and the first common electrode are used together to control the cholesteric liquid crystal layer to switch between a reflective state and a scattering state;

[0008] The second liquid crystal box includes a color filter substrate, a second array substrate arranged opposite to the color filter substrate, and a liquid crystal layer located between the color filter substrate and the second array substrate. The second array substrate is provided with second pixel electrodes distributed in an array, and the color filter substrate or the second array substrate is provided with a second common electrode cooperating with the second pixel electrode.

[0009] Furthermore, the projection of the first liquid crystal box on the display panel covers both the main display area and the virtual key area, the first liquid crystal box and the second liquid crystal box are stacked on each other, and the first liquid crystal box is stacked on the light-emitting side of the second liquid crystal box.

[0010] Furthermore, the first liquid crystal box has a plurality of first pixel units distributed in an array, and each of the first pixel units is provided with the first pixel electrode; the second liquid crystal box has a plurality of second pixel units distributed in an array, and the first pixel units located in the main display area correspond one to one to the second pixel units.

[0011] Further, the first pixel unit has a first red pixel unit, a first green pixel unit and a first blue pixel unit, the second pixel unit has a second red pixel unit, a second green pixel unit and a second blue pixel unit, and in the main display area, the first red pixel unit corresponds to the second red pixel unit, the first green pixel unit corresponds to the second green pixel unit, and the first blue pixel unit corresponds to the second blue pixel unit.

[0012] Furthermore, the projection of the first liquid crystal box on the display panel overlaps with the virtual key area, the first liquid crystal box and the second liquid crystal box are arranged side by side in a direction parallel to the display panel, and the first liquid crystal box is arranged at the edge of the second liquid crystal box.

[0013] Furthermore, a plurality of first scan lines and a plurality of first data lines are provided on the first array substrate, and the plurality of first scan lines and the plurality of first data lines are insulated from each other and cross-defined to form a plurality of first pixel units, and a first thin film transistor is provided in each of the first pixel units, and the first pixel electrode is electrically connected to the first scan line and the first data line adjacent to the first thin film transistor through the first thin film transistor.

[0014] Furthermore, a plurality of second scan lines and a plurality of second data lines are provided on the second array substrate, and the plurality of second scan lines and the plurality of second data lines are insulated from each other and cross-defined to form a plurality of second pixel units, and a second thin film transistor is provided in each of the second pixel units, and the second pixel electrode is electrically connected to the second scan line and the second data line adjacent to the second thin film transistor through the second thin film transistor.

[0015] The present application also provides a display device, comprising a backlight module and the display panel as described above, wherein the display panel is located at the light emitting side of the backlight module, and the backlight module is used to provide a backlight source for the display panel.

[0016] Further, the backlight module includes a first backlight module corresponding to the main display area and a second backlight module corresponding to the virtual key area, the first backlight module is used to provide a backlight source for the main display area, and the second backlight module is used to provide a backlight source for the virtual key area;

[0017] Alternatively, the backlight module is a partitioned backlight module, and the partitioned backlight module includes a first light control area and a second light control area that are independent of each other, the first light control area corresponds to the main display area and is used to independently provide a backlight source to the main display area, and the second light control area corresponds to the virtual key area and is used to independently provide a backlight source to the virtual key area.

[0018] Furthermore, the display device includes a transparent cover plate arranged on the light-emitting side of the display panel, the transparent cover plate is provided with an ink layer and a transparent area, the main display area and the virtual key area are both correspondingly provided with the transparent area, and the transparent area is a patterned structure in the virtual key area.

[0019] The beneficial effects of the utility model are as follows: by setting a first liquid crystal box using cholesteric liquid crystal in the virtual key area, the cholesteric liquid crystal layer can switch between a reflective state and a scattering state. When the ambient light is bright, the ambient light can be used to display the key icon, and when the ambient light is dark, the backlight can be used to display the key icon, thereby reducing the backlight power consumption of the virtual key area; and the reflectivity of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer in the reflective state is about 30%, and the transmittance in the scattering state is about 60%, which is higher than the transmittance of the semi-transparent ink material, so as to improve the display effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 It is a schematic plan view of a display device in the prior art.

[0021] Figure 2 It is a schematic plan view of a display device in an embodiment of the utility model.

[0022] Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display device in the first embodiment of the present invention in the initial state.

[0023] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the optical path of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer in the first embodiment of the present invention in the reflection state and the scattering state.

[0024] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the first array substrate in the first embodiment of the utility model.

[0025] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the second array substrate in the first embodiment of the utility model.

[0026] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the transparent retaining wall in the first embodiment of the utility model.

[0027] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the color film substrate in the first embodiment of the utility model.

[0028] Fig. 9 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display device in the first embodiment of the present invention in the screen-off state.

[0029] Fig.10 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display device in the first embodiment of the present invention in a display state under high-brightness ambient light.

[0030] Fig.11 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display device in the first embodiment of the present invention in a display state under low-brightness ambient light.

[0031] Fig.12It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display device in the second embodiment of the present invention in the initial state.

[0032] Fig.13 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display device in the second embodiment of the present invention when the screen is off.

[0033] Fig.14 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display device in the second embodiment of the present invention in the display state under high-brightness ambient light.

[0034] Fig.15 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display device in the second embodiment of the present invention in the display state under low brightness ambient light.

[0035] Fig.16 It is a plan view of the virtual key area of ​​the display device of the present invention when displaying key icons. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] In order to further explain the technical means and effects adopted by the present invention to achieve the predetermined purpose of the present invention, the specific implementation methods, structures, features and effects of the display panel and display device proposed by the present invention are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments:

[0037] [Example 1]

[0038] Figure 2 It is a schematic plan view of a display device in an embodiment of the utility model. Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display device in the first embodiment of the present invention in the initial state. Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the optical path of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer in the first embodiment of the present invention in the reflection state and the scattering state. Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the first array substrate in the first embodiment of the utility model. Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the second array substrate in the first embodiment of the utility model. Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the transparent retaining wall in the first embodiment of the utility model. Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the color film substrate in the first embodiment of the utility model.

[0039] like Figures 2 to 8As shown, a display panel provided in Embodiment 1 of the present utility model. The display panel has a main display area 101 and a virtual key area 102 located at the edge of the main display area 101, wherein the virtual key area 102 can be set at the left edge of the main display area 101, that is, close to the main driving seat, so as to facilitate the driver to operate. Of course, the virtual key area 102 can also be set at the left and right edges of the main display area 101 at the same time, that is, close to the main driving seat and the co-pilot seat, so as to facilitate the driver and the co-pilot seat passengers to operate.

[0040] The display panel includes a first liquid crystal cell 10 and a second liquid crystal cell 20. The projection of the first liquid crystal cell 10 on the display panel at least covers the virtual key area 102, and the projection of the second liquid crystal cell 20 on the display panel overlaps with the main display area 101. In this embodiment, the projection of the first liquid crystal cell 10 on the display panel covers both the main display area 101 and the virtual key area 102. The first liquid crystal cell 10 and the second liquid crystal cell 20 are stacked with each other, and the first liquid crystal cell 10 is stacked on the light-emitting side of the second liquid crystal cell 20.

[0041] The first liquid crystal box 10 includes an opposing substrate 11, a first array substrate 12 disposed opposite to the opposing substrate 11, and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer 13 located between the opposing substrate 11 and the first array substrate 12. The cholesteric liquid crystal layer 13 can use polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystal molecules (NW-PSCTLC). Among them, the cholesteric liquid crystal molecules have two stable textures: P state (Planar, planar structure state, i.e., reflection state) and FC state (Focal Conic, focal conic structure state, i.e., scattering light transmission state), neither of which requires voltage to maintain. In the P state, the reflection spectrum of the cholesteric liquid crystal molecules is in the visible spectrum, and the cholesteric liquid crystal molecules present bright colored light; if in the FC state, the cholesteric liquid crystal molecules no longer reflect the above colored light, and the light can be scattered and passed through the cholesteric liquid crystal molecules. Under the action of a certain electric field, these two states can be converted to each other, and these two states can be maintained for a long time without voltage.

[0042] like Figure 4 As shown in a, at zero voltage, when the cholesteric liquid crystal molecules are initially in the P state, this is a reflective state. The arrangement directions of the cholesteric liquid crystal molecules are different, and the reflected visible light spectra are different, and the remaining spectra are transmitted. The reflection spectrum band (Δλ) of the cholesteric liquid crystal molecules is proportional to the helical moment (Po) and birefringence (Δn=ne-no) of the cholesteric liquid crystal molecules, and the formula is: Δλ=PoΔn. Figure 4 As shown in b, after voltage is applied to both ends and then slowly reduced to zero, the cholesteric liquid crystal molecules rotate and stagnate in the FC state, which is the scattering light-transmitting state.

[0043] The first liquid crystal box 10 has a plurality of first pixel units P1 distributed in an array, and the second liquid crystal box 20 has a plurality of second pixel units P2 distributed in an array. The first pixel units P1 and the second pixel units P2 located in the main display area 101 correspond to each other one by one. In this embodiment, the first pixel unit P1 has a first red pixel unit, a first green pixel unit, and a first blue pixel unit. The cholesteric liquid crystal layer 13 has a first cholesteric liquid crystal reflecting red light in a reflective state, a second cholesteric liquid crystal reflecting green light, and a third cholesteric liquid crystal reflecting blue light. The first cholesteric liquid crystal corresponds to the first red pixel unit, the second cholesteric liquid crystal corresponds to the first green pixel unit, and the third cholesteric liquid crystal corresponds to the first blue pixel unit. The second pixel unit P2 has a second red pixel unit, a second green pixel unit, and a second blue pixel unit. In the main display area 101, the first red pixel unit corresponds to the second red pixel unit, the first green pixel unit corresponds to the second green pixel unit, and the first blue pixel unit corresponds to the second blue pixel unit. Among them, the wavelength of the selectively reflected light of the cholesteric liquid crystal is related to the pitch of the cholesteric liquid crystal. By changing the pitch of the cholesteric liquid crystal, the wavelength of the reflected light of the cholesteric liquid crystal can be regulated. For example, by adding a chiral agent to the cholesteric liquid crystal and adjusting the concentration of the chiral agent, different cholesteric liquid crystals that reflect red light, green light, and blue light can be prepared.

[0044] The first array substrate 12 is provided with a first pixel electrode 121 in each first pixel unit P1, and the opposing substrate 11 is provided with a first common electrode 111 matched with the first pixel electrode 121. The first pixel electrode 121 and the first common electrode 111 are used together to control the cholesteric liquid crystal layer 13 to switch between a reflective state and a scattering state.

[0045] like Figure 5 As shown, a plurality of first scan lines 1 and a plurality of first data lines 2 are provided on the first array substrate 12, and the plurality of first scan lines 1 and the plurality of first data lines 2 are mutually insulated and cross-defined to form a plurality of first pixel units P1, and a first thin film transistor 3 is provided in each first pixel unit P1, and a first pixel electrode 121 is electrically connected to the first scan line 1 and the first data line 2 adjacent to the first thin film transistor 3 through the first thin film transistor 3. Among them, the first thin film transistor 3 includes a first gate, a first active layer, a first drain and a first source, the first gate and the first scan line 1 are located in the same layer and are electrically connected, the first gate and the first active layer are separated by an insulating layer, the first source is electrically connected to the first data line 2, and the first drain is electrically connected to the first pixel electrode 121 through a contact hole. The first pixel electrode 121 is a block electrode corresponding to the first pixel unit P1, and the first common electrode 111 is a planar electrode that covers the entire surface of the opposing substrate 11.

[0046] like Figure 7 As shown, a transparent baffle 14 is provided between the opposing substrate 11 and the first array substrate 12. The transparent baffle 14 separates the gap between the opposing substrate 11 and the first array substrate 12 into a receiving cavity corresponding to the first pixel units P1 one by one. The cholesteric liquid crystal layer 13 is provided in the receiving cavity, thereby avoiding mutual interference between the cholesteric liquid crystal layers 13 between two adjacent first pixel units P1.

[0047] In this embodiment, the second liquid crystal box 20 is a liquid crystal display box. The second liquid crystal box 20 includes a color filter substrate 21, a second array substrate 22 arranged opposite to the color filter substrate 21, and a liquid crystal layer 23 located between the color filter substrate 21 and the second array substrate 22. The liquid crystal layer 23 preferably uses positive liquid crystal molecules, that is, liquid crystal molecules with positive dielectric anisotropy. In the initial state, the positive liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 23 are aligned parallel to the color filter substrate 21 and the second array substrate 22, and the alignment direction of the positive liquid crystal molecules close to the color filter substrate 21 is parallel or anti-parallel to the positive liquid crystal molecules close to the second array substrate 22. Of course, in other embodiments, the liquid crystal layer 23 may also use negative liquid crystal molecules, and the negative liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 23 may be aligned perpendicular to the color filter substrate 21 and the second array substrate 22, that is, similar to the alignment mode of the VA display mode.

[0048] like Figure 6 As shown, a plurality of second scan lines 201, a plurality of second data lines 202 and a plurality of second thin film transistors 203 are provided on the second array substrate 22, and a second pixel electrode 222 and a second thin film transistor 203 are provided in the area corresponding to each second pixel unit P2 of the second array substrate 22. The second pixel electrode 222 is electrically connected to the second scan line 201 and the second data line 202 adjacent to the second thin film transistor 203 through the second thin film transistor 203. Among them, in the main display area 101, the first scan line 1 corresponds to the second scan line 201 up and down, and the first data line 2 corresponds to the second data line 202 up and down, so as to reduce the influence on the aperture ratio. The second thin film transistor 203 includes a second gate, a second active layer, a second drain and a second source. The second gate and the second scan line 201 are located in the same layer and are electrically connected. The second gate and the second active layer are separated by an insulating layer, the second source is electrically connected to the second data line 202, and the second drain is electrically connected to the second pixel electrode 222 through a contact hole.

[0049] like Figure 8As shown, the color filter substrate 21 is provided with color resist layers 212 arranged in an array and black matrices 211 separating the color resist layers 212. The color resist layers 212 correspond to the second pixel units P2 one by one. The color resist layers 212 include color resist materials of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and correspondingly form sub-pixels of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). In the main display area 101, the black matrix 211 corresponds to the pattern of the transparent barrier wall 14 up and down.

[0050] like Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, a second common electrode 221 is further provided on the side of the second array substrate 22 facing the liquid crystal layer 23. The second common electrode 221 and the second pixel electrode 222 are located in different layers and are insulated and isolated by an insulating layer. The second common electrode 221 can be located above or below the second pixel electrode 222 ( Figure 3 As shown in the figure, the second common electrode 221 is located below the second pixel electrode 222). Preferably, the second common electrode 221 is a planar electrode arranged on the entire surface, and the second pixel electrode 222 is a block electrode arranged in each pixel unit or a slit electrode having a plurality of electrode strips to form a fringe field switching mode (Fringe Field Switching, FFS). Of course, in other embodiments, the second pixel electrode 222 and the second common electrode 221 may be located on the same layer, but the two are insulated and isolated from each other, and the second pixel electrode 222 and the second common electrode 221 may each include a plurality of electrode strips, and the electrode strips of the second pixel electrode 222 and the electrode strips of the second common electrode 221 are alternately arranged to form an in-plane switching mode (In-Plane Switching, IPS). Alternatively, in other embodiments, the second array substrate 22 is provided with a second pixel electrode 222 on the side facing the liquid crystal layer 23, and the color filter substrate 21 is provided with a second common electrode 221 on the side facing the liquid crystal layer 23 to form a TN mode or a VA mode. As for other introductions to the TN mode and the VA mode, please refer to the prior art, which will not be repeated here.

[0051] Furthermore, a first polarizer 31 is disposed on the side of the second liquid crystal cell 20 facing the first liquid crystal cell 10 , and a second polarizer 32 is disposed on the side of the second liquid crystal cell 20 away from the first liquid crystal cell 10 , and the transmission axis of the first polarizer 31 and the transmission axis of the second polarizer 32 are perpendicular to each other.

[0052] The counter substrate 11, the first array substrate 12, the color filter substrate 21 and the second array substrate 22 may be made of materials such as glass, acrylic and polycarbonate. The first common electrode 111, the first pixel electrode 121, the second common electrode 221 and the second pixel electrode 222 may be made of materials such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO).

[0053] This embodiment also provides a display device that can be used for a vehicle display screen. The display device includes a backlight module and the display panel as described above, the display panel is located on the light emitting side of the backlight module, and the backlight module is used to provide a backlight source for the display panel.

[0054] like Figure 3 As shown, the backlight module includes a first backlight module 41 corresponding to the main display area 101 and a second backlight module 42 corresponding to the virtual key area 102. The first backlight module 41 is used to provide a backlight source for the main display area 101, and the second backlight module 42 is used to provide a backlight source for the virtual key area 102. Among them, the first backlight module 41 can adopt a conventional backlight module structure. Since the area of ​​the virtual key area 102 is small, the second backlight module 42 can use an LED lamp to provide a backlight source. Of course, in other embodiments, the backlight module is a partitioned backlight module, and the partitioned backlight module includes a first light control area and a second light control area that are independent of each other. The first light control area corresponds to the main display area 101 and is used to independently provide a backlight source for the main display area 101. The second light control area corresponds to the virtual key area 102 and is used to independently provide a backlight source for the virtual key area 102.

[0055] Preferably, the first backlight module 41 adopts a collimated backlight (CBL) mode, which can collect light and ensure the display effect.

[0056] The first backlight module 41 includes a backlight source 411, a brightness enhancement film 412 and an anti-peep layer 413. The brightness enhancement film 412 is used to improve the utilization rate of light to increase the brightness of the light emitted by the first backlight module 41. The anti-peep layer 413 is arranged on the light-emitting side of the backlight source 411, and the anti-peep layer 413 is used to narrow the range of the light emission angle. Among them, the anti-peep layer 413 is equivalent to a miniature shutter structure, which can block light with a larger incident angle and allow light with a smaller incident angle to pass through, so that the angle range of light passing through the anti-peep layer 413 becomes smaller. The anti-peep layer 413 includes a plurality of parallel light-blocking walls and a light-transmitting hole located between two adjacent light-blocking walls, and light-absorbing materials are arranged on both sides of the light-blocking walls. Of course, the backlight source 411 can also be a light-collecting backlight source, so there is no need to set the anti-peep layer 413, but the light-collecting backlight source is more expensive than the conventional backlight source. The first backlight module 41 can be a side-entry backlight module or a direct-down backlight module.

[0057] Furthermore, the display device includes a transparent cover plate 50 arranged on the light emitting side of the display panel, and an ink layer 51 and a transparent area are provided on the transparent cover plate 50. Except for the transparent area, other areas are covered with the ink layer 51. The main display area 101 and the virtual key area 102 are both correspondingly provided with transparent areas, and the transparent area in the virtual key area 102 is a patterned structure, for example, a pattern of a key icon.

[0058] Fig. 9 FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display device in the first embodiment of the present invention in the screen-off state. Fig. 9 As shown, when the display device is in the screen-off state, the first backlight module 41, the second backlight module 42 and the second liquid crystal box 20 are all turned off, and the first liquid crystal box 10 is turned on, and the cholesteric liquid crystal in the first pixel unit P1 on the first liquid crystal box 10 is controlled to switch between the reflective state and the scattering state, and the reflective effect of the cholesteric liquid crystal is used to realize the display of the screen-off image. Among them, the main display area 10 can use the reflective effect of the cholesteric liquid crystal to realize the display of reflected white light, R / G / B monochrome light and static color pictures; the virtual key area 102 can use the reflective effect of the cholesteric liquid crystal in the reflective state to realize the key icon ( Fig.16 )show.

[0059] Fig.10 Schematic diagram of the cross section of the display device in the first embodiment of the present invention in the display state under high brightness ambient light. Fig.10 As shown, when the display device is in a display state under high-brightness ambient light, the second backlight module 42 is turned off, the first backlight module 41, the first liquid crystal box 10 and the second liquid crystal box 20 are all turned on, the cholesteric liquid crystals in the main display area 101 are controlled to be in a scattering state, and the second liquid crystal box 20 normally controls the grayscale display of the image in the main display area 101; the cholesteric liquid crystals in the virtual key area 102 switch between a reflection state and a scattering state, and the key icon ( Fig.16 )show.

[0060] Fig.11 Schematic diagram of the cross section of the display device in the first embodiment of the present invention in the display state under low brightness ambient light. Fig.11 As shown, when the display device is in a display state under low-brightness ambient light, the first backlight module 41, the second backlight module 42, the first liquid crystal box 10 and the second liquid crystal box 20 are all turned on, and the cholesteric liquid crystals in the main display area 101 are controlled to be in a scattering state. The second liquid crystal box 20 normally controls the grayscale display of the image in the main display area 101; the cholesteric liquid crystals in the virtual key area 102 switch between a reflective state and a scattering state, and the key icons ( Fig.16 )show.

[0061] [Example 2]

[0062] Fig.12 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display device in the second embodiment of the present invention in the initial state. Fig.13 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display device in the second embodiment of the present invention when the screen is off. Fig.14It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display device in the second embodiment of the present invention in the display state under high-brightness ambient light. Fig.15 Schematic diagram of the cross section of the display device in the second embodiment of the present utility model in the display state under low brightness ambient light. Figures 12 to 15 As shown, the display panel and display device provided in the second embodiment of the present invention are different from those in the first embodiment ( Figures 2 to 11 ) are substantially the same, except that, in this embodiment:

[0063] The projection of the first liquid crystal cell 10 on the display panel overlaps with the virtual key area 102. The first liquid crystal cell 10 and the second liquid crystal cell 20 are arranged side by side in a direction parallel to the display panel, and the first liquid crystal cell 10 is arranged at the edge of the second liquid crystal cell 20. That is, the main display area 101 is displayed only by the light transmitted through the first backlight module 41, and is black in the off state.

[0064] Fig.13 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display device in the second embodiment of the present invention in the screen-off state. Fig.13 As shown, when the display device is in the screen-off state, the first backlight module 41, the second backlight module 42 and the second liquid crystal box 20 are all turned off, and the first liquid crystal box 10 is turned on, and the cholesteric liquid crystal in the first pixel unit P1 on the first liquid crystal box 10 is controlled to switch between the reflective state and the scattering state, and the reflective effect of the cholesteric liquid crystal is used to realize the display of the screen-off image. Among them, in the screen-off state, the main display area 10 is black; the virtual key area 102 can use the reflective effect of the cholesteric liquid crystal in the reflective state to realize the key icon ( Fig.16 )show.

[0065] Fig.14 Schematic diagram of the cross section of the display device in the second embodiment of the present utility model in the display state under high brightness ambient light. Fig.14 As shown, when the display device is in a display state under high-brightness ambient light, the second backlight module 42 is turned off, the first backlight module 41, the first liquid crystal box 10 and the second liquid crystal box 20 are all turned on, and the second liquid crystal box 20 normally controls the grayscale display of the image in the main display area 101; the cholesteric liquid crystal in the virtual key area 102 switches between the reflection state and the scattering state, and the key icon ( Fig.16 )show.

[0066] Fig.15 Schematic diagram of the cross section of the display device in the second embodiment of the present utility model in the display state under low brightness ambient light. Fig.15As shown, when the display device is in a display state under low-brightness ambient light, the first backlight module 41, the second backlight module 42, the first liquid crystal box 10 and the second liquid crystal box 20 are all turned on, and the second liquid crystal box 20 normally controls the grayscale display of the picture in the main display area 101; the cholesteric liquid crystal in the virtual key area 102 switches between the reflection state and the scattering state, and the key icon ( Fig.16 )show.

[0067] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the rest of the structure and working principle of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment and will not be described in detail here.

[0068] In this document, the directional words such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are defined by the positions of the structures in the drawings and the positions of the structures relative to each other, just for the sake of clarity and convenience in expressing the technical solution. It should be understood that the use of the directional words should not limit the scope of protection claimed in this application. It should also be understood that the terms "first" and "second" used in this document are only used to distinguish names and are not used to limit quantity and order.

[0069] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and does not limit the present invention in any form. Although the present invention has been disclosed as a preferred embodiment as above, it is not used to limit the present invention. Any technician familiar with the profession can make some changes or modifications to the technical contents disclosed above without departing from the scope of the technical solution of the present invention, which are equivalent embodiments of equivalent changes. However, any simple modification, equivalent changes and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the content of the technical solution of the present invention are still within the protection scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A display panel, characterized in that: The display panel has a main display area (101) and a virtual key area (102) located at the edge of the main display area (101), and the display panel comprises a first liquid crystal box (10) and a second liquid crystal box (20), the projection of the first liquid crystal box (10) on the display panel at least covers the virtual key area (102), and the projection of the second liquid crystal box (20) on the display panel overlaps with the main display area (101); The first liquid crystal box (10) comprises an opposing substrate (11), a first array substrate (12) arranged opposite to the opposing substrate (11), and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer (13) located between the opposing substrate (11) and the first array substrate (12); a first pixel electrode (121) is provided on the first array substrate (12); a first common electrode (111) matched with the first pixel electrode (121) is provided on the opposing substrate (11); the first pixel electrode (121) and the first common electrode (111) are used together to control the cholesteric liquid crystal layer (13) to switch between a reflective state and a scattering state; The second liquid crystal box (20) comprises a color film substrate (21), a second array substrate (22) arranged opposite to the color film substrate (21), and a liquid crystal layer (23) located between the color film substrate (21) and the second array substrate (22); second pixel electrodes (222) distributed in an array are provided on the second array substrate (22); and a second common electrode (221) cooperating with the second pixel electrode (222) is provided on the color film substrate (21) or the second array substrate (22).

2. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The projection of the first liquid crystal box (10) on the display panel covers both the main display area (101) and the virtual key area (102); the first liquid crystal box (10) and the second liquid crystal box (20) are stacked on each other, and the first liquid crystal box (10) is stacked on the light-emitting side of the second liquid crystal box (20).

3. The display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first liquid crystal box (10) has a plurality of first pixel units (P1) distributed in an array, and each of the first pixel units (P1) is provided with the first pixel electrode (121); the second liquid crystal box (20) has a plurality of second pixel units (P2) distributed in an array, and the first pixel units (P1) and the second pixel units (P2) located in the main display area (101) correspond one to one.

4. The display panel according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first pixel unit (P1) has a first red pixel unit, a first green pixel unit and a first blue pixel unit, the second pixel unit (P2) has a second red pixel unit, a second green pixel unit and a second blue pixel unit, and in the main display area (101), the first red pixel unit corresponds to the second red pixel unit, the first green pixel unit corresponds to the second green pixel unit, and the first blue pixel unit corresponds to the second blue pixel unit.

5. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The projection of the first liquid crystal box (10) on the display panel overlaps with the virtual key area (102); the first liquid crystal box (10) and the second liquid crystal box (20) are arranged side by side in a direction parallel to the display panel; the first liquid crystal box (10) is arranged at the edge of the second liquid crystal box (20).

6. The display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: A plurality of first scanning lines (1) and a plurality of first data lines (2) are provided on the first array substrate (12); the plurality of first scanning lines (1) and the plurality of first data lines (2) are insulated from each other and cross-defined to form a plurality of first pixel units (P1); a first thin film transistor (3) is provided in each of the first pixel units (P1); and the first pixel electrode (121) is electrically connected to the first scanning line (1) and the first data line (2) adjacent to the first thin film transistor (3) through the first thin film transistor (3).

7. The display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: A plurality of second scan lines (201) and a plurality of second data lines (202) are provided on the second array substrate (22); the plurality of second scan lines (201) and the plurality of second data lines (202) are insulated from each other and cross-defined to form a plurality of second pixel units (P2); a second thin film transistor (203) is provided in each of the second pixel units (P2); and the second pixel electrode (222) is electrically connected to the second scan line (201) and the second data line (202) adjacent to the second thin film transistor (203) through the second thin film transistor (203).

8. A display device, characterized in that: It comprises a backlight module and a display panel as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the display panel is located on the light emitting side of the backlight module, and the backlight module is used to provide a backlight source for the display panel.

9. The display device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The backlight module comprises a first backlight module (41) corresponding to the main display area (101) and a second backlight module (42) corresponding to the virtual key area (102), wherein the first backlight module (41) is used to provide a backlight source for the main display area (101), and the second backlight module (42) is used to provide a backlight source for the virtual key area (102); Alternatively, the backlight module is a partitioned backlight module, and the partitioned backlight module includes a first light control area and a second light control area that are independent of each other, the first light control area corresponds to the main display area (101) and is used to independently provide a backlight source to the main display area (101), and the second light control area corresponds to the virtual key area (102) and is used to independently provide a backlight source to the virtual key area (102).

10. The display device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The display device comprises a transparent cover plate (50) arranged on the light emitting side of the display panel, an ink layer (51) and a transparent area are provided on the transparent cover plate (50), the transparent area is correspondingly provided in the main display area (101) and the virtual key area (102), and the transparent area is a patterned structure in the virtual key area (102).

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