Display device

Abstract

A display device includes a first substrate, multiple first pixel electrodes, multiple second pixel electrodes, a display medium, a second substrate and multiple solar cells. The first pixel electrodes and the second pixel electrodes are disposed on the first substrate. The display medium is disposed on the first pixel electrodes and the second pixel electrodes. The second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate. The solar cells are disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and overlap with the first pixel electrodes on the normal line of the first substrate, respectively.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a display device, and more particularly to a display device incorporating a solar cell. Prior Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the technology industry, display devices have been widely used in daily life, such as in advertising billboards and electronic paper. For example, display devices using certain types of display media have the advantage of very low power consumption. When the displayed image does not change, no power is consumed, and when the displayed image changes, only a very limited amount of power is consumed. Therefore, if combined with solar cells to supply power, the aforementioned display devices do not require an external power source. However, when a display device is combined with a solar cell, the display area and the solar cell are usually located in separate areas. To avoid occupying the display area, if the area where the solar cell is located cannot be too large, the solar cell cannot generate enough power to supply the display device. If the area is designed to be too large, it will result in a reduction in the display area or an unsightly appearance of the display device. Summary of the Invention

[0003] At least one embodiment of the present invention provides a display device comprising a solar cell disposed corresponding to a pixel electrode, which can generate sufficient power to supply the display device and improve the appearance of the display device without reducing the display area.

[0004] The display device provided in at least one embodiment of the present invention includes a first substrate, a plurality of first pixel electrodes, a plurality of second pixel electrodes, a display medium, a second substrate, and a plurality of solar cells. The first pixel electrodes are disposed on the first substrate. The second pixel electrodes are disposed on the first substrate. The display medium is disposed on the first pixel electrodes and the second pixel electrodes. The second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate. The solar cells are disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and on the normal line of the first substrate, the solar cells overlap with the first pixel electrodes respectively.

[0005] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the total area of ​​the plurality of first pixel electrodes is smaller than the total area of ​​the plurality of second pixel electrodes.

[0006] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the total area of ​​the plurality of solar cells is used as the numerator, and the sum of the total area of ​​the plurality of first pixel electrodes and the total area of ​​the plurality of second pixel electrodes is used as the denominator, and the ratio of the numerator to the denominator is 0.05 to 0.5.

[0007] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the display device further includes a connection layer disposed between the display medium and the second substrate, and connecting the display medium and the second substrate, wherein the plurality of solar cells are located between the second substrate and the connection layer.

[0008] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the display device further includes an intermediate layer disposed between the display medium and the connecting layer.

[0009] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the display device further includes a connection layer disposed between the display medium and the second substrate, and connecting the display medium and the second substrate, wherein the plurality of solar cells are located between the display medium and the connection layer.

[0010] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the display device further includes an intermediate layer disposed between the display medium and the plurality of solar cells.

[0011] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the display device further includes a plurality of first prisms disposed on a second substrate, and the first prisms overlap with the plurality of solar cells on the normal line of the first substrate.

[0012] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the display device further includes a plurality of second prisms disposed on a second substrate, and on the normal line of the first substrate, the second prisms overlap with the plurality of second pixel electrodes respectively.

[0013] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the display device further includes a plurality of cylindrical lenses disposed on the second substrate, the display device includes a plurality of display units, each display unit including two adjacent of the plurality of second pixel electrodes, and the cylindrical lenses overlap with the display units respectively on the normal line of the first substrate.

[0014] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, in each of the display units, the two adjacent second pixel electrodes respectively drive the display medium corresponding to the two adjacent second pixel electrodes to display a first image and a second image respectively, and the first image and the second image are different.

[0015] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, each of the first pixel electrodes drives the display medium corresponding to each of the first pixel electrodes to display an image, wherein the image is not black. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0016] Figure 1 is a top view schematic diagram of a display device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display area of ​​a display device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display area of ​​a display device according to at least another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display area of ​​a display device according to at least another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display area of ​​a display device according to at least another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display area of ​​a display device according to at least another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display area of ​​a display device according to at least another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display area of ​​a display device according to at least another embodiment of the present invention. Implementation

[0017] The embodiments of the present invention will be discussed in detail below. However, it will be understood that the embodiments provide many applicable concepts that can be implemented in a wide variety of specific contexts. The discussed and disclosed embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0018] To clearly illustrate the technical features of this invention, the dimensions of the components in the drawings are enlarged proportionally, and the number of some components is reduced. Therefore, the description and explanation of the embodiments of this invention are not limited to the number of components in the drawings or the dimensions and shapes presented, but should cover dimensions, shapes, and deviations from these due to actual manufacturing processes and / or tolerances. For example, a flat surface shown in the drawings may have rough and / or non-linear characteristics, and an acute angle shown in the drawings may be a rounded corner. Therefore, the components presented in the drawings are primarily for illustration and are not intended to precisely depict the actual shape of the components, nor are they intended to limit the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0019] The spatial relative terms used in this invention, such as "below," "under," "above," and "above," are for the convenience of describing the relative relationship between one element or feature and another, as illustrated in the figures. The true meaning of these spatial relative terms includes other orientations. For example, when the illustration is rotated 180 degrees vertically, the relationship between one element and another may change from "below" or "under" to "above" or "above." Furthermore, the spatial relative descriptions used in this invention should be interpreted in the same way.

[0020] It should be understood that although the present invention may use terms such as "first," "second," and "third" to describe various elements or features, these elements or features should not be limited by these terms. These terms are primarily used to distinguish one element from another, or one feature from another. Furthermore, the term "or" as used in the present invention may, as appropriate, include any combination of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0021] Furthermore, the present invention can be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and the various details of the present invention can also be combined, modified and changed in various embodiments based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the concept of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 1 is a top view of a display device 10 according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the display area AA of the display device 10 according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the display device 10 has a display area AA and a peripheral area PA adjacent to the display area AA, and the display device 10 includes a first substrate 100, a plurality of first pixel electrodes 102, a plurality of second pixel electrodes 104, a display medium 106, a second substrate 108, and a plurality of solar cells 110.

[0023] The first pixel electrodes 102 are disposed on the first substrate 100. The second pixel electrodes 104 are disposed on the first substrate 100. The display medium 106 is disposed on the first pixel electrodes 102 and the second pixel electrodes 104. The second substrate 108 is disposed opposite to the first substrate 100. The solar cells 110 are disposed between the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 108, on the normal (i.e., the first direction D1) of the first substrate 100, and the solar cells 110 overlap with the first pixel electrodes 102 respectively.

[0024] Since the solar cell 110 and the first pixel electrode 102 are respectively disposed in the display area AA, and the second pixel electrode 104 is used to display the image, sufficient power can be generated to supply the display device 10 and improve the appearance of the display device 10 without reducing the area of ​​the display area AA.

[0025] In some embodiments, the solar cells 110 at least partially or completely overlap with the first pixel electrodes 102. The total area of ​​the first pixel electrodes 102 is smaller than the total area of ​​the second pixel electrodes 104, that is, the total area of ​​the solar cells 110 overlapping with the first pixel electrodes 102 is smaller than the total area of ​​the second pixel electrodes 104. For example, the ratio of the total area of ​​the first pixel electrodes 102 as the numerator and the sum of the total areas of the first pixel electrodes 102 and the second pixel electrodes 104 as the denominator is 0.05 to 0.5. In other words, the ratio of the total area of ​​the solar cells 110 as the numerator and the sum of the total areas of the first pixel electrodes 102 and the second pixel electrodes 104 as the denominator is 0.05 to 0.5. With the above design, the solar cell 110 within this total area ratio range can generate enough power to supply the display device 10, and the second pixel electrode 104 within this total area ratio range and not overlapping with the solar cell 110 is also sufficient to display the image.

[0026] It is worth noting that, in order to make the illustration more concise, Figure 2 only shows three first pixel electrodes 102, four second pixel electrodes 104, and three solar cells 110 as representative schematics. However, it is understood that other first pixel electrodes 102, second pixel electrodes 104, and solar cells 110 may be included in the areas not shown in the figure.

[0027] In some embodiments, the first pixel electrode 102 can drive the display medium 106 corresponding to the first pixel electrode 102 to display an image. The image is not black, that is, an image with a light absorption rate of less than 100%, for example, a white image. With the above design, the first pixel electrode 102 corresponding to the solar cell 110 and the displayed image of the display medium 106 corresponding to the first pixel electrode 102 can avoid absorbing light and affecting the efficiency of the solar cell 110. In fact, the displayed image can even help reflect light, thereby improving the efficiency of the solar cell 110.

[0028] Please refer to Figure 2. The display device 10 further includes a connecting layer 112, which is disposed between the display medium 106 and the second substrate 108 and connects the display medium 106 and the second substrate 108. The solar cells 110 are located between the second substrate 108 and the connecting layer 112.

[0029] In detail, the second substrate 108 has a display surface DS facing away from the first substrate 100 and an inner surface IS facing the first substrate 100. The solar cell 110 can be formed on the inner surface IS of the second substrate 108, for example, in contact with the inner surface IS of the second substrate 108. The display medium 106 can be formed on the first pixel electrode 102 and the second pixel electrode 104, for example, in contact with the first pixel electrode 102 and the second pixel electrode 104. The connecting layer 112 is disposed between the display medium 106 and the solar cell 110 and the second substrate 108 to connect the display medium 106 and the solar cell 110 and the second substrate 108. That is, there can be a gap G1 between the solar cell 110 and the display medium 106, and the connecting layer 112 can be located in the gap G1.

[0030] In some embodiments, the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 108 may be, for example, a glass substrate, a plastic substrate, a silicon substrate, a flexible substrate or other suitable substrate, or the first substrate 100 may be an array substrate, for example, containing switching elements (not shown, such as transistors) or other electronic components (not shown, such as capacitors).

[0031] The materials of the first pixel electrode 102 and the second pixel electrode 104 may include opaque conductive materials, transparent conductive materials, or combinations thereof. The opaque conductive materials may be metals, such as molybdenum, or metal compounds, such as molybdenum nitride, molybdenum niobate, etc., while the transparent conductive materials may be, for example, indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, etc.

[0032] The display medium 106 may be an electrophoretic display layer, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the display medium 106 may be a liquid crystal display layer, an electrowetting display layer, a liquid powder display layer, etc. The material of the bonding layer 112 may be optical clear adhesive (OCA), optical clear resin (OCR), and / or other suitable materials.

[0033] Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display area AA of the display device 10' according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 3, the embodiment in Figure 3 shares most of the same component structure, materials, and relative positional relationships with the embodiment in Figure 2. Furthermore, the top view of the display device 10' in Figure 3 is substantially the same as the top view of the display device 10' in Figure 2; therefore, the same technical features will not be described or illustrated here. The main difference between the two embodiments is that the display device 10' further includes an intermediate layer 114 disposed between the display medium 106 and the connecting layer 112.

[0034] In detail, the intermediate layer 114 may be formed on the display medium 106, for example, in contact with the display medium 106, while the connecting layer 112 is disposed between the intermediate layer 114 and the solar cell 110 and the second substrate 108 to connect the intermediate layer 114 with the solar cell 110 and the second substrate 108. That is, there may be a gap G1' between the solar cell 110 and the intermediate layer 114, and the connecting layer 112 may be located in the gap G1'.

[0035] In some embodiments, the intermediate layer 114 may be, for example, a protective layer, an optical layer, a water-blocking layer, a planarization layer, an adhesion-adjusting layer, etc., and its material may be, for example, a transparent organic insulating layer, an inorganic insulating layer, or a combination thereof. The material of the organic insulating layer may be, for example, polymethyl methacrylate, silicone, polyimide, epoxy resin, etc., while the material of the inorganic insulating layer may be, for example, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, etc.

[0036] Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display area AA of the display device 10A according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 4, the embodiment in Figure 4 shares most of the same component structure, materials, and relative positional relationships with the embodiment in Figure 2. Furthermore, the top view of the display device 10A in Figure 4 is substantially the same as the top view of the display device 10 in Figure 2; therefore, the same technical features will not be described or illustrated here. The main difference between the two embodiments is that the solar cell 110A of the display device 10A is located between the display medium 106 and the connecting layer 112.

[0037] In detail, the solar cell 110A can be formed on the display medium 106, for example, in contact with the display medium 106, and the connecting layer 112 is disposed between the second substrate 108 and the solar cell 110A and the display medium 106 to connect the second substrate 108 with the solar cell 110A and the display medium 106. That is, there can be a gap G2 between the solar cell 110A and the second substrate 108, and the connecting layer 112 can be located in the gap G2.

[0038] Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display area AA of the display device 10A' according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 5, the embodiment in Figure 5 shares most of the same component structure, materials, and relative positional relationships with the embodiment in Figure 4. Furthermore, the top view of the display device 10A' in Figure 5 is substantially the same as the top view of the display device 10 in Figure 2; therefore, the same technical features will not be described or illustrated here. The main difference between the display device 10A' in Figure 5 and the display device 10A' in Figure 4 is that the display device 10A' further includes an intermediate layer 114 disposed between the display medium 106, the connecting layer 112, and the solar cell 110A.

[0039] In detail, the intermediate layer 114 may be formed on the display medium 106, for example, in contact with the display medium 106, while the connecting layer 112 is disposed between the second substrate 108 and the solar cell 110 and the intermediate layer 114 to connect the second substrate 108 with the solar cell 110 and the intermediate layer 114. That is, there may be a gap G2' between the solar cell 110A and the second substrate 108, and the connecting layer 112 may be located in the gap G2'.

[0040] Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display area AA of the display device 10B according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 6, the embodiment in Figure 6 shares most of the same component structure, materials, and relative positional relationships with the embodiment in Figure 2. Furthermore, the top view of the display device 10B in Figure 6 is substantially the same as the top view of the display device 10 in Figure 2; therefore, the same technical features will not be described or illustrated here. The main difference between the two embodiments is that the display device 10B further includes a plurality of first prisms 116 disposed on the second substrate 108.

[0041] In detail, these first prisms 116 are disposed on the display surface DS of the second substrate 108, on the normal line of the first substrate 100, and overlap with the solar cells 110 respectively, that is, these first prisms 116 overlap with the first pixel electrodes 102 respectively. In some embodiments, the first prisms 116 have a light-concentrating function, which can concentrate the light incident on the display device 10B from the outside onto the solar cells 110 that overlap with it, thereby improving the efficiency of the solar cells 110. The first prisms 116 can be, for example, triangular prism prisms.

[0042] Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display area AA of the display device 10C according to at least another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 7, the embodiment of Figure 7 is the same as the embodiment of Figure 6 in terms of most of the component structures, materials, and relative positional relationships, and the top view of the display device 10C in Figure 7 is substantially the same as the top view of the display device 10 in Figure 2. Therefore, the same technical features will not be described or illustrated here. The main difference between the two embodiments is that the display device 10C further includes a plurality of second prisms 118 disposed on the second substrate 108.

[0043] In detail, these second prisms 118 are disposed on the display surface DS of the second substrate 108, on the normal line of the first substrate 100, and overlap with the second pixel electrodes 104 respectively. In some embodiments, the second prisms 118 have a brightness adjustment function, which can concentrate the light emitted from the display device 10C, thereby adjusting the brightness of the display device 10C. The second prisms 118 can be, for example, cylindrical prisms or triangular prisms. However, although the display device 10C of this embodiment includes the first prism 116 and the second prism 118, in other embodiments, the display device 10C may not include the first prism 116.

[0044] Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display area AA of the display device 10D according to at least another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 8, the embodiment in Figure 8 shares most of the same component structure, materials, and relative positional relationships with the embodiment in Figure 6. Furthermore, the top view of the display device 10D in Figure 8 is substantially the same as the top view of the display device 10 in Figure 2; therefore, the same technical features will not be described or illustrated here. The main difference between the two embodiments is that the display device 10D further includes a plurality of cylindrical lenses 120 disposed on the second substrate 108.

[0045] In detail, these cylindrical lenses 120 are disposed on the display surface DS of the second substrate 108, and the display device 10D includes a plurality of display units DU, each display unit DU including two adjacent second pixel electrodes 104. The cylindrical lenses 120 overlap with the display units DU along the normal of the first substrate 100. In some embodiments, the cylindrical lenses 120 have a beam-splitting function, which can drive the images displayed on the corresponding display media 106 of two adjacent second pixel electrodes 104 in the display unit DU to be emitted in different directions. For example, in each display unit DU, two adjacent second pixel electrodes 104 drive the display media 106 corresponding to the two adjacent second pixel electrodes 104 to display a first image and a second image respectively. The first image and the second image are different; for example, the first image and the second image may be image information to be conveyed to viewers at different viewing angles, or the first image and the second image may be left-eye image information and right-eye image information to be conveyed to the same viewer, respectively, and then parallax is used to achieve a three-dimensional display effect. However, although the display device 10D of this embodiment includes the first prism 116 and the cylindrical lens 120, in other embodiments, the display device 10D may not include the first prism 116.

[0046] Furthermore, it should be understood that although the display devices 10B, 10C, and 10D of Figures 6 to 8 are described using the display device 10 of Figure 2 as an example that further includes the first prism 116, the second prism 118, and the cylindrical lens 120, in other embodiments, the display devices 10', 10A, and 10A' of Figures 3 to 5 may also further include the first prism 116, the second prism 118, and the cylindrical lens 120.

[0047] In summary, the present invention generates sufficient power to power the display device and improves the appearance of the display device without reducing the display area by placing the solar cell and the first pixel electrode correspondingly in the display area, while the second pixel electrode is used to display the image.

[0048] Although the present invention has been disclosed above by way of embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the appended claims.

[0049] 10, 10', 10A, 10A', 10B, 10C, 10D: Display devices 100: First substrate 102: First pixel electrode 104: Second pixel electrode 106: Display medium 108: Second substrate 110, 110A: Solar cells 112: Connection Layer 114: Intermediate Layer 116: First Prism 118: Second Prism 120: Cylindrical lens AA: Display area D1: First Direction DS: Display Surface DU: Display Unit G1, G1', G2, G2': Interval IS: Inner Surface PA: Surrounding Area

[0050] Domestic storage information (please note in order of storage institution, date, and number) none Overseas storage information (please note in the order of storage country, institution, date, and number) none

Claims

1. A display device, comprising: First substrate; Multiple first pixel electrodes are disposed on the first substrate; Multiple second pixel electrodes are disposed on the first substrate; A display medium is disposed on the first pixel electrodes and the second pixel electrodes; a second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate; and a plurality of solar cells are disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the solar cells overlap the first pixel electrodes on a normal line of the first substrate.

2. The display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the total area of ​​the first pixel electrodes is smaller than the total area of ​​the second pixel electrodes.

3. The display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the total area of ​​the solar cells is a numerator, and the sum of the total area of ​​the first pixel electrodes and the total area of ​​the second pixel electrodes is a denominator, the ratio of the numerator to the denominator being 0.05 to 0.

5.

4. The display device as described in claim 1, further comprising: A connecting layer is disposed between the display medium and the second substrate, and connects the display medium and the second substrate, wherein the solar cells are located between the second substrate and the connecting layer.

5. The display device as described in claim 4, further comprising: An intermediate layer is disposed between the display medium and the connection layer.

6. The display device as described in claim 1, further comprising: A connecting layer is disposed between the display medium and the second substrate, and connects the display medium and the second substrate, wherein the solar cells are located between the display medium and the connecting layer.

7. The display device as described in claim 6, further comprising: An intermediate layer is disposed between the display medium and the solar cells.

8. The display device as described in claim 1, further comprising: Multiple first prisms are disposed on the second substrate, wherein the first prisms overlap with the solar cells respectively along the normal line of the first substrate.

9. The display device as described in claim 1, further comprising: Multiple second prisms are disposed on the second substrate, wherein the second prisms overlap with the second pixel electrodes respectively on the normal line of the first substrate.

10. The display device as described in claim 1, further comprising: Multiple cylindrical lenses are disposed on the second substrate, wherein the display device includes multiple display units, each display unit including two adjacent second pixel electrodes, wherein the cylindrical lenses overlap with the display units on the normal line of the first substrate.

11. The display device as claimed in claim 10, wherein in each of the display units, adjacent pairs of the second pixel electrodes respectively drive the display medium corresponding to the adjacent pairs of the second pixel electrodes to display a first image and a second image respectively, and the first image is different from the second image.

12. The display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first pixel electrodes drives the display medium corresponding to each of the first pixel electrodes to display an image, wherein the image is not black.

Images