Display module

Abstract

This disclosure provides a display module disposed adjacent to a windshield. The display module includes a display, an optical film, and at least one light-absorbing element. The display includes a display area and a peripheral area and is used to provide display light having a first polarization direction. The optical film is disposed between the display and the windshield, and is used to reflect the display light having the first polarization direction. At least one light-absorbing element is disposed adjacent to at least one side of the peripheral area and spaced apart from the display.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to a display module. Prior Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of automotive display technology, consumers have increasingly higher demands for display products used in vehicles. Among these, head-up displays (HUDs) utilize the reflection of a light beam from the windshield to deliver the image to the user (or driver), allowing them to view the screen by looking towards the windshield. HUDs are now becoming increasingly common in the market and are well-received by consumers.

[0003] However, windshields must have a certain light transmittance to allow drivers to receive ambient light from outside the windshield to observe road conditions. This means that when drivers view the head-up display (HUD) image, ambient light can easily see through the windshield, reducing the contrast and clarity of the displayed image. Excessive ambient light intensity (such as in strong sunlight during the day) can also severely impact the HUD viewing experience. Furthermore, when ambient light shines on the display or its accessories, it can cause unexpected ambient reflections, creating stray light that can inconvenience users or affect driving safety. These issues all require solutions from the relevant manufacturers. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This disclosure provides a display module that can improve and enhance the display quality of the display module.

[0005] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, a display module is disposed adjacent to a windshield. The display module includes a display, an optical film, and at least one light-absorbing element. The display includes a display area and a peripheral area and is used to provide display light having a first polarization direction. The optical film is disposed on one side adjacent to the light-emitting surface of the display and is used to reflect the display light having the first polarization direction. At least one light-absorbing element is disposed adjacent to at least one side of the peripheral area and spaced apart from the display.

[0006] To make the above-mentioned features and advantages disclosed herein more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings for detailed explanation. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0007] Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 1B is a schematic diagram of the virtual image caused by stray light from the display module in Figure 1A; Figure 2A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 2B is a schematic diagram of various implementations of the microstructure of the display module in Figure 2A; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 7A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 7B shows the relationship between the incident angle and the reflection coefficient for beams with a first polarization direction and beams with a second polarization direction, respectively, when they pass through different media. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Implementation

[0008] Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same element symbols are used in the drawings and description to denote the same or similar parts.

[0009] Throughout this specification and the appended claims, certain terms are used to refer to specific elements. Those skilled in the art will understand that electronic device manufacturers may use different names to refer to the same element. This document is not intended to distinguish between elements that have the same function but different names. In the following specification and claims, words such as "containing" and "comprising" are open-ended terms and should therefore be interpreted as "containing but not limited to...".

[0010] The directional terms used herein, such as "up," "down," "front," "back," "left," and "right," are for reference only when referring to the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the directional terms used are illustrative and not intended to limit this disclosure. In the accompanying drawings, the various figures illustrate general features of the methods, structures, and / or materials used in specific embodiments. However, these figures should not be construed as defining or limiting the scope or nature covered by these embodiments. For example, for clarity, the relative dimensions, thicknesses, and positions of various films, regions, and / or structures may be reduced or enlarged.

[0011] In this disclosure, the description of one structure (or layer, element, substrate) being located on / above another structure (or layer, element, substrate) can refer to the two structures being adjacent and directly connected, or to the two structures being adjacent but not directly connected. Indirect connection means that there is at least one intermediate structure (or intermediate layer, intermediate element, intermediate substrate, intermediate spacer) between the two structures, with the lower surface of one structure adjacent to or directly connected to the upper surface of the intermediate structure, and the upper surface of the other structure adjacent to or directly connected to the lower surface of the intermediate structure. The intermediate structure can be composed of a single or multiple solid or non-solid structure, without limitation. In this disclosure, when a structure is placed "on" other structures, it may mean that the structure is "directly" on other structures, or that the structure is "indirectly" on other structures, meaning that at least one structure is sandwiched between the structure and other structures.

[0012] The terms “approximately,” “substantially,” or “roughly” are generally interpreted as being within 10% of a given value or range, or within 5%, 3%, 2%, 1%, or 0.5% of a given value or range. Furthermore, the terms “range from the first value to the second value” or “range between the first value and the second value” indicate that the range includes the first value, the second value, and other values ​​in between.

[0013] The ordinal numbers used in the specification and claims, such as "first" and "second," to modify elements do not inherently imply or represent any prior ordinal number for that element (or those elements), nor do they represent the order of one element with another, or the order of manufacturing processes. The use of these ordinal numbers is solely to clearly distinguish one named element from another with the same name. The claims and specification may not use the same terminology; therefore, a first element in the specification may be a second element in the claims.

[0014] The electrical connections or couplings described in this disclosure can refer to direct connections or indirect connections. In the case of a direct connection, the endpoints of the components in two circuits are directly connected or connected to each other by a conductor segment. In the case of an indirect connection, there is a switch, diode, capacitor, inductor, resistor, other suitable components, or combinations of the above components between the endpoints of the components in two circuits, but not limited to these.

[0015] In this disclosure, the thickness, length, and width can be measured using an optical microscope (OM), while the thickness or width can be measured from cross-sectional images obtained from an electron microscope, but these methods are not limited to this. Furthermore, any two values ​​or directions used for comparison may have a certain degree of error. Additionally, the terms "given range is from the first value to the second value," "given range falls within the range of the first value to the second value," or "given range is between the first value and the second value" indicate that the given range includes the first value, the second value, and other values ​​in between. If the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction, the angle between the first and second directions can be between 80 degrees and 100 degrees; if the first direction is parallel to the second direction, the angle between the first and second directions can be between 0 degrees and 10 degrees.

[0016] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It is understood that these terms, for example, as defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the relevant art and the background or context of this disclosure, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal manner, unless specifically defined in the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0017] In this disclosure, the electronic device may include, but is not limited to, a display device, a backlight device, an antenna device, a packaging device, a sensing device, or a splicing device. The electronic device may be a bendable or flexible electronic device. The display device may be a non-emissive display device or a self-emissive display device. The display device may include, for example, liquid crystal, light-emitting diode, fluorescence, phosphorescence, quantum dot (QD), other suitable display media, or combinations thereof. The antenna device may include, for example, a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), a frequency selective surface (FSS), a radio frequency filter, a polarizer, a resonator, or an antenna. The antenna may be a liquid crystal type antenna or a varactor diode antenna. The sensing device may be a sensing device for capacitance, light, heat, or ultrasound, but is not limited to these. In this disclosure, the electronic device may include electronic components, which may include passive and active components, such as capacitors, resistors, inductors, diodes, transistors, etc. Diodes may include light-emitting diodes (LEDs), varactor diodes (VADs), or photodiodes. LEDs may include, for example, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), mini LEDs, micro LEDs, or quantum dot LEDs, but are not limited thereto. The splicing device may be, for example, a display splicing device or an antenna splicing device, but is not limited thereto. It should be noted that the electronic device may be any arrangement or combination of the foregoing, but is not limited thereto. The packaging device may be suitable for wafer-level packaging (WLP) technology or panel-level packaging (WLP) technology, such as chip-first or RDL-first processes. Furthermore, the electronic device can be rectangular, circular, polygonal, have curved edges, or other suitable shapes. The electronic device may have peripheral systems such as drive systems, control systems, and light source systems to support display devices, antenna devices, wearable devices (e.g., augmented reality or virtual reality), in-vehicle devices (e.g., car windshields), or splicing devices.

[0018] Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1B is a schematic diagram of the virtual image caused by stray light from the display module of Figure 1A. Figure 2A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2B is a schematic diagram of various implementations of the microstructure of the display module of Figure 2A. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 7A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 7B is a graph showing the relationship between the incident angle and the reflection coefficient when a light beam with a first polarization direction and a light beam with a second polarization direction pass through different media. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the features of several different embodiments can be replaced, recombined, or mixed to complete other embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Features between embodiments can be arbitrarily mixed and used as long as they do not violate the spirit of the invention or conflict with it.

[0019] In the embodiments disclosed herein, the display module can be used in vehicles with windshields. The windshield may be, for example, safety glass with a laminated structure, but this disclosure is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the type of vehicle is not limited. In terms of power, the vehicle may be a gasoline vehicle (such as a gasoline or diesel vehicle), a hybrid vehicle, or an electric vehicle, but is not limited thereto. In terms of appearance or function, the vehicle may be a sedan, SUV, sports car, truck, bus, military vehicle, racing car, special vehicle, engineering vehicle, or campervan, but is not limited thereto.

[0020] Please refer to Figures 1A and 1B simultaneously. The display module 1A may include, but is not limited to, a display 100, an optical film 110, and a windshield 120. The display module 1A may add or remove one or more components as needed.

[0021] The display 100 includes a display area DR and a peripheral area PR, and the display 100 is used to provide display light L1 having a first polarization direction P1. Specifically, the display area DR is the area of ​​the display 100 that provides an image, while the peripheral area PR is the area outside the display area DR. The peripheral area PR can be used to house peripheral lines (not shown), driving elements (not shown), or other elements (not shown) that are not intended to be seen by the user. The peripheral area PR may be located on at least one side of the display area DR. For example, the peripheral area PR may surround the display area DR, but is not limited thereto.

[0022] Display 100 may include, but is not limited to, liquid crystal displays, light-emitting diode displays (LEDs), fluorescent displays, phosphorescent displays, digital light processing (DLP) projectors, liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) displays, laser scanning systems, or any combination thereof. Liquid crystal displays may include, but are not limited to, thin-film transistor displays. Digital light processing projectors may include, but are not limited to, digital micromirror devices (DMDs) or zoom projectors. Light-emitting diodes may include, for example, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), inorganic light-emitting diodes, mini LEDs, micro LEDs, or quantum dot (QD) light-emitting diodes (QLEDs, QDLEDs) or other suitable materials, or any combination thereof. Furthermore, the display 100 may be rectangular, or in other embodiments may be circular, polygonal, have curved edges, or other suitable shapes, and this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0023] The optical film 110 is disposed on the side adjacent to the light-emitting surface of the display 100, or the optical film 110 is disposed between the display 100 and the windshield 120 in the Y direction. Specifically, the optical film 110 may be attached to the windshield 120 via an adhesive layer (not shown), for example, attached to the side of the windshield 120 facing the driver (i.e., the eye e in FIG. 1A). The optical film 110 is disposed in the transmission path of the display light L1. Further, the optical film 110 is used to reflect the display light L1 having a first polarization direction P1, so that the display light L1 is redirected and transmitted to the driver's eye e. The optical film 110 may be a polarizing beam splitter or a reflective polarizing film, which has different reflectivity and transmittance for beams of different polarization states. For example, the optical film 110 has a first reflectivity and a first transmittance for a light beam (e.g., display light L1) having a first polarization direction P1, and the optical film 110 has a second reflectivity and a second transmittance for a light beam (e.g., initial ambient light L2) having a second polarization direction P2, wherein the first reflectivity is greater than the second reflectivity, and the first transmittance is less than the second transmittance.

[0024] The light beam with the first polarization direction P1 is, for example, P-type polarized light, and the light beam with the second polarization direction P2 is, for example, S-type polarized light. The reflection axis of the optical film 110 is, for example, parallel to the P-type polarized light, so the optical film 110 has a high first reflectivity and a low first transmittance for the display light L1 with the first polarization direction P1; while the transmission axis of the optical film 110 is, for example, parallel to the S-type polarized light, so the optical film 110 has a low second reflectivity and a high second transmittance for the S-type polarized light beam. When the display light L1 emitted by the display 100 is P-type polarized light, the optical film 110 has a high first reflectivity for the display light L1, so that most of the display light L1 transmitted to the optical film 110 can be reflected by the optical film 110 to the eye e, thereby improving display quality and clarity.

[0025] Optical film 110 has a first surface 110S1 and a second surface 110S2. The first surface 110S1 is the surface of optical film 110 facing the display 100, and the second surface 110S2 is the surface of optical film 110 facing the windshield 120. Display light L1 is incident on the first surface 110S1, and initial ambient light L2 from outside the windshield 120 is incident on the second surface 110S2. The initial ambient light L2 is, for example, unpolarized light, that is, the polarization direction of the initial ambient light L2 includes a first polarization direction P1 and a second polarization direction P2. Optical film 110 is used to allow the initial ambient light L2 with the second polarization direction P2 to pass through and to reflect the initial ambient light L2 with the first polarization direction P1.

[0026] When the initial ambient light L2 illuminates the second surface 110S2 of the optical film 110, the optical film 110 has a high second transmittance and a low second reflectance for the initial ambient light L2 in the second polarization direction P2, and a high first reflectance and a low first transmittance for the initial ambient light L2 in the first polarization direction P1. That is, most of the initial ambient light L2 in the first polarization direction P1 is reflected by the optical film 110, and most of the initial ambient light L2 in the second polarization direction P2 penetrates the optical film 110. The initial ambient light L2 in the second polarization direction P2 that penetrates the optical film 110 is then reflected back to the optical film 110 by the display 100. Because the optical film 110 has a high second transmittance and a low second reflectance for the initial ambient light L2 in the second polarization direction P2, most of the initial ambient light L2 in the second polarization direction P2 will again penetrate the optical film 110 instead of being reflected by the optical film 110 to the user's eye e. Therefore, the intensity of the initial ambient light L2 entering the user's eye e can be effectively reduced, which means reducing the proportion of stray light generation, thus improving the display quality of the display module 1A.

[0027] In some embodiments, the first reflectivity (reflectivity to a beam having a first polarization direction P1) of the optical diaphragm 110 may be greater than or equal to 40% and less than or equal to 60%; the second reflectivity (reflectivity to a beam having a second polarization direction P2) may be greater than 0% and less than or equal to 20%. Furthermore, the first transmittance (transmittance to a beam having a first polarization direction P1) of the optical diaphragm 110 may be greater than or equal to 40% and less than or equal to 60%, and the second transmittance (transmittance to a beam having a second polarization direction P2) may be greater than or equal to 80% and less than 100%.

[0028] In some embodiments, the reflectivity of the optical film 110 may be greater than or equal to 25% and less than or equal to 35%, and the transmittance of the optical film 110 may be greater than or equal to 65% and less than or equal to 75%. Here, the reflectivity of the optical film 110 refers to the average of the sum of the reflectivity of the optical film 110 for a light beam with a first polarization direction P1 and the reflectivity of the optical film 110 for a light beam with a second polarization direction P2, i.e., (first reflectivity + second reflectivity) / 2. On the other hand, the transmittance of the optical film 110 refers to the average of the sum of the transmittance of the optical film 110 for a light beam with a first polarization direction P1 and the transmittance of the optical film 110 for a light beam with a second polarization direction P2, i.e., (first transmittance + second transmittance) / 2. By appropriately designing the transmittance and reflectivity of the optical film 110, it is helpful to improve display quality while allowing the driver to see the view outside the windshield 120, thereby ensuring driving safety.

[0029] Please refer to region A of FIG1A. In some embodiments, the display 100 may include a display panel 101, a frame 102, a cover plate 103, and a light-shielding layer 104. The display panel 101 is used to provide display light L1. A polarizer 1011 may be provided on the light-emitting side of the display panel 101 so that the display light L1 emitted from the display panel 101 has a first polarization direction P1. The frame 102 is used to house the display panel 101. In some embodiments, the material of the frame 102 may include metal, alloy, or a combination thereof to facilitate heat dissipation, but is not limited thereto. The frame 102 has an opening formed by a frame (e.g., a first frame ed1 and a second frame ed2 partially drawn in FIG1A), and a cover plate 103 is provided at the opening. The cover plate 103 is disposed on the light-emitting surface of the display panel 101. The cover plate 103 may be made of a high-transmittance polymer (e.g., polycarbonate (PC), polyimide (PI), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), etc.) or glass, and this disclosure is not limited thereto. A light-shielding layer 104 is disposed on the cover plate 103 and located at the edge of the cover plate 103. The light-shielding layer 104 may partially overlap the display panel 101, for example, having the overlap area OR shown in FIG. 1A. The design of the overlap area OR allows the edge of the display panel 101 to be effectively shielded by the light-shielding layer 104, reducing visual breaks and blurring the edges of the display panel 101. In this document, the peripheral area PR of the display 100 may include a portion of the cover plate 103 (e.g., the portion of the cover plate 103 overlapping the light-shielding layer 104), the frame 102, and the light-shielding layer 104. In other words, the display area DR of the display 100 can be the area of ​​the display panel 101 not blocked by the light-shielding layer 104, and the peripheral area PR can be the area outside the display area DR. The light-shielding layer 104 can be, for example, a dark ink with a certain light-shielding effect. For example, the optical density (OD) value of the light-shielding layer 104 can be greater than or equal to 2, but this disclosure is not limited thereto. The light-shielding layer 104 can be used to beautify the appearance or to cover components, circuit boards, or lines that are not intended to be seen by the user. In some embodiments, the light-shielding layer 104 can be a patterned dark ink. For example, the light-shielding layer 104 can be a regularly or irregularly arranged dot pattern, where the size, color, or density of the dot pattern gradually increases from the display area DR to the peripheral area PR. This design can enhance the optical quality. The patterned design of the light-shielding layer 104 can reduce the sharpness of color changes at the edges of the display 100. In some embodiments, the light-shielding layer 104 can also partially cover the peripheral area PR without completely covering it, but this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0030] In some embodiments, initial ambient light L2 with a second polarization direction P2, penetrating the optical diaphragm 110, may be sequentially transmitted to the driver's eyes e via reflections from the display 100 and the windshield 120. As shown in FIG1B, a portion of the initial ambient light L2 with the second polarization direction P2 may penetrate the optical diaphragm 110 and be transmitted to the display area DR of the display 100, and said portion of the initial ambient light L2 is sequentially transmitted to the driver's eyes e via reflections from the display area DR of the display 100 and the windshield 120. Furthermore, another portion of the initial ambient light L2 with the second polarization direction P2 may penetrate the optical diaphragm 110 and be transmitted to the peripheral area PR of the display 100, and said other portion of the initial ambient light L2 is sequentially transmitted to the driver's eyes e via reflections from the peripheral area PR of the display 100 and the windshield 120. In some embodiments, the display module 1A may be further designed to reduce the difference in initial ambient light L2 (such as color difference, brightness difference, or color temperature difference) between the display area DR and the peripheral area PR of the display 100, thereby homogenizing the initial ambient light L2 reflected to the eye e and reducing the impact of stray light on the user.

[0031] Table 1-1 Measurement point Surface of display 100 Surface of display 100 Types of light measured Unpolarized light Second polarized light Difference in reflectance (ΔR%) 3% 1.5% Difference in specular reflectance (|SCI-SCE|) 3% 1.5% Color difference (△E) 10.0 10.0

[0032] Table 1-2 Measurement point Surface of windshield 120 Surface of windshield 120 Types of light measured Unpolarized light Second polarized light Brightness difference (△L) 1.1% 0.5% Color difference (△E) 7.0 7.0 Color temperature difference (△K) 1000 1000

[0033] Table 2-1 Measurement point Surface of display 100 Surface of display 100 Types of light measured Unpolarized light Second polarized light Difference in reflectivity 1% 0.5% Difference in specular reflectivity 1% 0.5% Color difference 6.0 6.0

[0034] Table 2-2 Measurement point Surface of windshield 120 Surface of windshield 120 Types of light measured Unpolarized light Second polarized light Brightness difference 0.4% 0.2% Color difference 4.2 2.1 Color temperature difference 500 500

[0035] In Tables 1-1 and 2-1, reflectance difference, specular reflectance difference, and color difference refer to the reflectance difference, specular reflectance difference, and color difference of the initial ambient light L2 from the display area DR and the peripheral area PR of the display 100. These differences can be measured by placing the measuring instrument above the display surface of the display 100. In Tables 1-1 and 2-1, the color difference ΔE = (a*^2 + b*^2 + L*^2)^0.5, where a*, b*, and L* are the three color coordinates in the CIE color space.

[0036] In Tables 1-2 and 2-2, brightness difference, color difference, and color temperature difference refer to the differences in brightness, color difference, and color temperature of the initial ambient light L2 from the display area DR and the peripheral area PR of the display 100. This can be achieved by setting the detection instrument at eye level e to capture the initial ambient light L2 from the display area DR and the peripheral area PR of the display 100. In Tables 1-2 and 2-2, K refers to the color temperature, and K = 437*n^3 + 3601*n^2 + 6831*n + 5517, n = (x - 0.3320) / (0.1858 - y), where x and y are two color coordinates in the CIE 1931 color space.

[0037] Similarly, Table 2-1 represents the differences in reflectivity, specular reflectivity, and color difference when an unpolarized light beam illuminates the display area DR and peripheral area PR of the display 100 of another embodiment; and the differences in reflectivity, specular reflectivity, and color difference when a light beam with a second polarization direction P2 illuminates the display area DR and peripheral area PR of the display 100 of another embodiment. Table 2-2 represents the differences in brightness, color difference, and color temperature of the image presented on the surface of the windshield 120 by the display area DR and peripheral area PR of the display 100 of another embodiment when an unpolarized light beam illuminates the display area DR and peripheral area PR; and the differences in brightness, color difference, and color temperature of the image presented on the surface of the windshield 120 by the display area DR and peripheral area PR of the display 100 of another embodiment when a light beam with a second polarization direction P2 illuminates the display area DR and peripheral area PR of the display 100 of another embodiment.

[0038] Please refer to Figures 1A and 1B simultaneously. When the initial ambient light L2 shines on the display 100, it is reflected and can be divided into stray light L2A formed by reflection from the display area DR and stray light L2B formed by reflection from the peripheral area PR. This stray light may be reflected again at the windshield 120 where the optical film 110 is not provided (e.g., stray light L2' in Figure 1B). When stray light L2' is transmitted to the user's eye e, it may cause the user to observe frame mura due to differences in reflectivity, specular reflectivity, brightness, color difference, and / or color temperature, affecting the user's viewing experience.

[0039] In this document, the optical parameters configured in Tables 1-1 and 1-2 (or Tables 2-1 and 2-2) can be achieved through the setting of the optical film 110. For example, reflectivity differences, specular reflectivity differences, brightness differences, color difference differences, and / or color temperature differences that conform to the specifications in the above tables can be obtained to reduce the visibility of the frame virtual image defect q and mitigate the impact of stray light generated by the display module 1A. In some embodiments, when the display 100 is not displaying (e.g., powered off, in standby mode, etc.) or is in a black screen, the reflectivity difference between the peripheral area PR and the display area DR is less than 1%, and the specular reflectivity difference between the peripheral area PR and the display area DR can be less than 1%. In some embodiments, when the display 100 is not displaying or is in a black screen, the color difference between the peripheral area PR and the display area DR can be less than 1%.

[0040] Referring to Figure 2A, display module 1B is similar to display module 1A in Figure 1A. The main differences between display module 1B and display module 1A are described below. Display module 1B further includes at least one light-absorbing element 130, which is disposed adjacent to at least one side of the peripheral region PR and spaced from the display 100 by a distance d1 in the X direction. Specifically, as shown in the enlarged view of region C, the light-absorbing element 130 may include a light-absorbing layer 131 and a fixing member 132 for fixing the light-absorbing layer 131. The fixing member 132 may have a first surface S1 parallel to the Y direction and a second surface S2 parallel to the X direction. The first surface S1 and the second surface S2 face the display 100, and the X direction may be substantially perpendicular to the Y direction, for example, but this disclosure is not limited thereto. The light-absorbing layer 131 may be directly disposed on the first surface S1 and the second surface S2, that is, the light-absorbing layer 131 also faces the display 100.

[0041] The light-absorbing member 130 can be disposed on the transmission path of the initial ambient light L2 reflected by the display 100. The light-absorbing layer 131 of the light-absorbing member 130 can be leather, ink, fabric, polarizer, or other suitable absorbing materials, or for example, a material having a relatively high absorption rate for the light beam in the second polarization direction P2, or an optical layer, a thin-film optical structure, or other light-absorbing structures having an anti-glare moth-eye structure on the surface, so that the specular reflectance of the light-absorbing member 130 can be less than or equal to 1%, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The position or shape of the light-absorbing layer 131 can be mechanically adjusted (such as moving, rotating, magnifying, etc.) via the fixing member 132, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. By disposing the light-absorbing member 130, the reflection of the initial ambient light L2 occurring at the display 100 can be further absorbed, which also reduces the unexpected reflection of the initial ambient light L2, further reduces the generation of stray light, reduces the influence of the stray light interfering with the eyes e, and thus improves the image clarity and contrast of the display light L1.

[0042] On the other hand, in order to improve the light absorption effect of the light-absorbing member 130, various dimensional parameters between the light-absorbing member 130 and the display 100 need to be designed correspondingly. For example, the distance d1 is the minimum distance between the display 100 and the light-absorbing layer 131, and the size of the distance d1 can be less than or equal to the positive projection of the width of the display 100 on the horizontal plane (such as the plane where the direction X is located). For example, if the inclination angle of the display 100 relative to the direction X is Φ and the width of the display 100 is W, then the distance d1 is less than or equal to W*tanΦ. The height h1 is the vertical height of the display 100 in the direction Y, and the height h2 is the vertical height of the light-absorbing layer 131 in the direction Y. In some embodiments, the height h2 can be greater than the height h1, thereby improving the light absorption function of the light-absorbing member 130. In some embodiments, the surface of the at least one light-absorbing member 130 facing the display 100 is not parallel to the surface of the display 100. For example, the inclination angle Φ of the display 100 relative to the direction X can be greater than 0 degree and less than 45 degrees, so that the driver (such as the eyes e in the figure) can see a upright virtual image. In addition, the depth g1 is the difference between the highest point position of the display 100 and the highest point position of the light-absorbing layer 131 in the direction Y. If the depth g1 is too large, the display light L1 is easily blocked by the light-absorbing member 130, affecting the display effect; if the depth g1 is too small, the effect of the light-absorbing member 130 absorbing the initial ambient light L2 (or stray light) will be affected. In some embodiments, the depth g1 can satisfy the following conditional formula: 0.5*h1 < g1 < 5*h1. Accordingly, the light-absorbing member 130 can exert a better light absorption function.

[0043] It is worth mentioning that the display 100 may also include other optical structures to further reduce the generation of stray light. As shown in the enlarged view of region D, the first border ed1 of the frame 102 of the display 100 (or the second border ed2 in Figure 1A) may also include a microstructure 1021. The microstructure 1021 may be, for example, a structure of multiple triangular prisms, which can increase the proportion of diffuse reflection of the initial ambient light L2 illuminating the peripheral region PR. In addition to reducing glare generation, it can also make it easier for the initial ambient light L2 illuminating the display 100 to be guided to the light absorber 130 and effectively absorbed. In other embodiments, the microstructure 1021 may have different implementations. For example, in Figure 2B, the microstructure 1021 may be replaced by the microstructure 1021A, which may be, for example, a plurality of semi-cylinders of the same size and arranged regularly. The term "semi-cylinder" refers to a non-complete cylinder, and is not limited to half of a cylinder. Alternatively, microstructure 1021 can be replaced by microstructure 1021B, which may be, for example, multiple semi-cylinders of different sizes arranged irregularly. Alternatively, microstructure 1021 can be replaced by microstructure 1021C, which may be, for example, multiple trapezoidal prisms of the same size, etc. This disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0044] Please refer to Figure 2A. The cover plate 103 may have a flat portion FP corresponding to the display area DR, and a curved portion CP adjacent to the peripheral area PR. The curved portion CP makes it easier for the initial ambient light L2 illuminating the display 100 to be guided to and absorbed by the light-absorbing element 130, further reducing stray light generation. On the other hand, an anti-glare layer AG may also be provided on the cover plate 103. The anti-glare layer AG may be provided on the curved portion CP and the flat portion FP to further reduce glare generation. In other embodiments, the cover plate 103 may also include an anti-reflective film with a frosted surface, further reducing the reflectivity of the cover plate 103 and also reducing stray light generation.

[0045] Referring to Figure 3, display module 1C is similar to display module 1B in Figure 2A, with the main differences described below. In display module 1C, the angle of the emitted display light L1 can be further adjusted to achieve better imaging. For example, in region E of the enlarged view, there can be an angle θ1 between the normal N2 of the surface of display 100 and the normal N1 of windshield 120. Furthermore, the light emission range of display light L1 can have a full width at half maximum (FWHM) θ2. FWHM is defined as the angular range corresponding to when the brightness observed by display 100 drops to half. In this embodiment, angle θ1 can be greater than FWHM θ2. This configuration provides a narrow viewing angle. In some embodiments, FWHM θ2 can be less than 15 degrees, less than 30 degrees, or less than 45 degrees. This disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0046] Referring to Figure 4, display module 1D is similar to display module 1B in Figure 2A, with the main differences described below. In display module 1D, the light-absorbing element 130 is positioned, for example, on the side away from the driver's position (e.g., the position of the eyes e). In other words, in direction X, the light-absorbing element 130 is positioned between the display 100 and the windshield 120. Correspondingly, the light-absorbing layer 131 is positioned towards the display 100 to absorb the initial ambient light L2 reflected from the surface of the display 100. Specifically, the position of the light-absorbing element 130 can be adjusted according to the angle of the windshield 120. This configuration is applicable to vehicles (e.g., trucks or SUVs) where the windshield 120 has a large tilt angle (e.g., a large tilt angle with direction X). Furthermore, the height of the light-absorbing element 130 can be based on the half-width θ2 of the display light L1 without obstructing it, thereby reducing its impact on the imaging of the display 100. In some embodiments, the display light L1 may have an asymmetrical viewing angle. For example, the maximum brightness of the display light L1 illuminating the surface of the optical film 110 can be at an angle greater than 5 degrees, greater than 10 degrees, or greater than 15 degrees relative to the normal N1.

[0047] Referring to Figure 5, display module 1E is similar to display module 1D in Figure 4, with the main differences described below. Display module 1E also includes a support member 140, which is disposed between the windshield 120 and the display 100, and an optical film 110 is attached to the support member 140. In other words, the optical film 110 and the windshield 120 are separate from each other. The support member 140 may be made of transparent plastic or other sheet material with high transmittance to visible light, and may have a support structure capable of rotation, movement, and / or folding; this disclosure is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the tilt angle of the support member 140 may differ from the tilt angle of the windshield 120. Since the optical film 110 is attached to the support member 140, when the optical film 110 needs to be replaced, only the support member 140 needs to be disassembled, further reducing maintenance costs.

[0048] Referring to Figure 6, display module 1F is similar to display module 1D in Figure 4, with the main differences described below. Display module 1F may also include another light-absorbing layer 150, which is disposed between optical film 110 and windshield 120. This other light-absorbing layer 150 may be, for example, a light-absorbing layer with high absorption rate in the second polarization direction P2 (e.g., an absorptive polarizer), or an adhesive layer with carbon black particles, dark ink, or an adhesive layer with light-absorbing material.

[0049] In region F of the enlarged illustration, because the optical film 110 has a high first reflectivity for the display light L1 in the first polarization direction P1, the display light L1 is easily reflected by the optical film 110 to the eye e. Only a small portion of the display light L1 penetrates the optical film 110 and is absorbed by the other light absorption layer 150. On the other hand, because the optical film 110 has a high second transmittance for the initial ambient light L2 in the second polarization direction P2, the initial ambient light L2 in the second polarization direction P2 easily penetrates the optical film 110 and is then absorbed by the other light absorption layer 150. In other words, the provision of the other light absorption layer 150 helps to reduce the chance of the initial ambient light L2 being transmitted to the eye e, or to reduce the chance of the initial ambient light L2 forming stray light inside the vehicle, further improving the imaging quality of the display module 1F. On the other hand, the proportion of S-polarized reflected light in the initial ambient light L2 is relatively high, so another light absorption layer 150 with a corresponding polarization absorption direction can be used to reduce the proportion of the initial ambient light L2 entering the vehicle.

[0050] Referring to Figure 7A, display module 1G is similar to display module 1D in Figure 4, with the main differences described below. Display module 1G may also include a protective layer 160 disposed on the optical film 110. In other words, the optical film 110 may be disposed between the windshield 120 and the protective layer 160. The protective layer 160 may be composed of glass, plastic, or other materials with high visible light transmittance, and is used to protect the optical film 110.

[0051] As shown in the enlarged view of region G, when the display light L1 is transmitted through the protective layer 160, a portion of the display light L1 may be reflected on the first surface 160S1 of the protective layer 160 facing the display 100, for example, generating a first reflected light L1A, and a portion of the display light L1 may be reflected on the second surface 160S2 of the protective layer 160 away from the display 100, for example, generating a second reflected light L1B. The first reflected light L1A and the second reflected light L1B will produce multiple image frames, which are prone to producing ghost images in the observation of the eye e, affecting the quality of the displayed image.

[0052] Please refer to Figure 7B, which illustrates the relationship between the incident angle and the reflection coefficient of the beams with the first polarization direction P1 and the second polarization direction P2. Figure 7B uses beams with different polarization directions incident from a medium with a refractive index n=1 to a medium with a refractive index n=1.5 as an example. As shown in the figure, when the incident angle is close to Brewster's angle, the beam with the first polarization direction P1 (e.g., the display light L1) can have the minimum reflection coefficient. Therefore, when the incident angle is Brewster's angle, the intensity of the aforementioned first reflected light L1A can be minimized, which further reduces the ghosting phenomenon. Therefore, the angle θ1 (i.e., the angle between the normal N2 of the display surface of the aforementioned display 100 and the normal N1 of the windshield 120; the normal N2 is omitted in Figure 7A) can be close to the aforementioned Brewster's angle. From another perspective, since the size of the Brost angle is related to the refractive index of the two different media through which the light beam passes, in this embodiment, the refractive index of the protective layer 160 can be greater than or equal to 1.3 and less than or equal to 1.8. With the above configuration, the generation of the first reflected light L1A can be greatly reduced, which can also reduce the generation of ghosting.

[0053] In some embodiments, the number of displays 100 can be multiple, and the multiple displays 100 correspond to different curvatures of the windshield 120, with different displays 100 having different angles θ1. Alternatively, the angles θ1 of different displays 100 can all be substantially the same, and different materials of the protective layer 160 can be selected to adjust the refractive index accordingly to achieve the aforementioned effect. Alternatively, multiple support members 140 with different tilt angles can be used in the architecture of FIG. 5.

[0054] Referring to Figure 8, display module 1H is similar to display module 1D in Figure 4, with the main differences described below. Display module 1G may also include a phase retardation plate 170, which is disposed on optical film 110, or, in other words, optical film 110 may be disposed between windshield 120 and phase retardation plate 170. As shown in region H, phase retardation plate 170 may be, for example, a quarter-wave plate, which can transform the polarization state of the first polarization direction P1 of display light L1 into the polarization state of the third polarization direction P3 (e.g., elliptical or circular polarization). Similarly, phase retardation plate 170 can transform the polarization state of the second polarization direction P2 of the initial ambient light L2 into another polarization state of the third polarization direction P3' (e.g., elliptical or circular polarization in another direction). This disclosure does not limit the type or form of phase retardation plate 170.

[0055] While driving, drivers sometimes wear sunglasses (SG) to block sunlight. Modern linearly polarized sunglasses (SG) are designed to absorb S-polarized light beams and allow P-polarized light beams to pass through. With the phase retardation film 170, the driver wearing sunglasses (SG) can receive the initial ambient light L2 that penetrates the optical film 110 and the phase retardation film 170. In other words, the driver can observe the environment outside the windshield 120, thus improving driving safety.

[0056] In summary, the display module disclosed herein reduces stray light generation by using optical films, thereby improving display contrast and display quality. Furthermore, the use of light-absorbing components further suppresses stray light generation.

[0057] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions disclosed herein, and are not intended to limit them. Although the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0058] While the embodiments and advantages of this disclosure have been presented above, it should be understood that anyone skilled in the art can make modifications, substitutions, and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, and features of the various embodiments can be arbitrarily mixed and substituted to form other new embodiments. Furthermore, the scope of protection of this disclosure is not limited to the processes, machines, manufacturing, material composition, apparatus, methods, and steps described in the specific embodiments of the specification. Anyone skilled in the art can understand from the content of this disclosure the current or future development of processes, machines, manufacturing, material composition, apparatus, methods, and steps, as long as they can perform substantially the same function or obtain substantially the same results in the embodiments described herein, and can be used according to this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of this disclosure includes the aforementioned processes, machines, manufacturing, material composition, apparatus, methods, and steps. In addition, each claim constitutes an individual embodiment, and the scope of protection of this disclosure also includes combinations of various claims and embodiments. The scope of protection of this disclosure shall be determined by the appended claims.

[0059] 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H: Display modules 100: Monitor 101: Display Panel 1011: Polarizing filter 102: Frame 1021, 1021A, 1021B, 1021C: Microstructure 103: Cover plate 104: Light-shielding layer 110: Optical film 110S1, 160S1, S1: First surface 110S2, 160S2, S2: Second surface 120: Windshield 130: Light-absorbing component 131: Light Absorption Layer 132: Fastener 140: Support component 150: Another light-absorbing layer 160: Protective layer 170: Phase Delay Film A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H: Regions AG: Anti-glare layer CP: Bend DR: Display Area d1: Distance e: eyes ed1: First border ed2: Second border FP: Flat area g1: Depth h1, h2: Height L1: Display light L1A: First reflected light L1B: Second reflected light L2: Initial ambient light L2', L2A, L2B: Stray light N1, N2: Normal lines OR: Overlapping area P1: First bias direction P2: Second polarization direction P3: Third offset direction P3': Another third polarization direction PR: Surrounding Area Q: Border ghosting defects SG: Sunglasses X, Y: Direction Φ: Inclination angle θ1, θ2: Angles

Claims

1. A display module, comprising: A display, including a display area and a peripheral area and for providing display light, wherein the display light has a first polarization direction; An optical film is disposed on one side adjacent to the light-emitting surface of the display, wherein the optical film is used to reflect the display light having the first polarization direction, the reflectivity of the optical film is greater than or equal to 25% and less than or equal to 35%, and the transmittance of the optical film is greater than or equal to 65% and less than or equal to 75%; and at least one light-absorbing element is disposed on at least one side adjacent to the peripheral area and spaced apart from the display.

2. The display module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface of the at least one light-absorbing element facing the display is not parallel to the surface of the display, and the specular reflectivity of the at least one light-absorbing element is less than or equal to 1%.

3. The display module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical film has a first surface and a second surface, the display light is incident on the first surface, the initial ambient light is incident on the second surface, wherein the initial ambient light has a second polarization direction, and the optical film allows the initial ambient light having the second polarization direction to pass through.

4. The display module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the initial ambient light further has a first polarization direction, and the optical film reflects the initial ambient light having the first polarization direction.

5. The display module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the optical film has a first reflectivity and a first transmittance for a light beam having the first polarization direction, and the optical film has a second reflectivity and a second transmittance for a light beam having the second polarization direction, wherein the first reflectivity is greater than the second reflectivity, and the first transmittance is less than the second transmittance.

6. The display module as described in claim 1, wherein the display further comprises: Display panel for providing the display light; A frame for accommodating the display panel; A cover plate is disposed on the light-emitting surface of the display panel; A light-shielding layer is disposed on the cover plate, and the peripheral area includes a portion of the cover plate, the frame, and the light-shielding layer.

7. The display module as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the display is not displaying or is in a black screen, the difference in reflectivity between the peripheral area and the display area is less than 1%.

8. The display module as claimed in claim 7, wherein when the display is not displaying or is in the black screen, the difference in specular reflectance between the peripheral area and the display area is less than 1%.

9. The display module as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the display is not displaying or is in a black screen, the color difference between the peripheral area and the display area is less than 1%.

10. A display module, comprising: A display, including a display area and a peripheral area and for providing display light, wherein the display light has a first polarization direction; An optical film is disposed on one side adjacent to the light-emitting surface of the display, wherein the optical film is used to reflect the display light having a first polarization direction; and at least one light-absorbing element is disposed on at least one side adjacent to the peripheral area and spaced apart from the display, wherein the optical film has a first surface and a second surface, the display light is incident on the first surface, the initial ambient light is incident on the second surface, wherein the initial ambient light has a second polarization direction, and the optical film allows the initial ambient light having the second polarization direction to pass through; The optical film has a first reflectivity and a first transmittance for a light beam having the first polarization direction, and the optical film has a second reflectivity and a second transmittance for a light beam having the second polarization direction, wherein the first reflectivity is greater than the second reflectivity, and the first transmittance is less than the second transmittance.

11. A display module, comprising: A display, including a display area and a peripheral area and for providing display light, wherein the display light has a first polarization direction; An optical film is disposed on one side adjacent to the light-emitting surface of the display, wherein the optical film is used to reflect the display light having the first polarization direction; and at least one light-absorbing element is disposed on at least one side adjacent to the peripheral area and spaced apart from the display, wherein when the display is not displaying or is in a black screen, the difference in reflectivity between the peripheral area and the display area is less than 1%.

Images