Display Panel Integrating Illuminance Sensors on Base Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display devices face challenges in reducing the thickness of display panels while maintaining effective illuminance detection, as conventional methods often require separate mounting of illuminance sensors and pixel circuits, which increases thickness and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The display panel integrates illuminance sensors and pixel circuits on the same layer, with a base layer including emission and sensor areas, light receiving elements, and light emitting elements, along with a black matrix and color filters, to enhance light incidence and detection reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If illuminance sensors are mounted outside the display device, then illuminance detection function is achieved, but the thickness of the display panel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illuminance sensor is integrated into the display panel structure by forming it on the same substrate as the pixel circuits. The sensor unit includes a light receiving element formed in a sensor region of the substrate, with signal lines extending to peripheral regions for signal output, thereby combining the illuminance sensing function within the display panel itself rather than as a separate external component.
2Reliability
If illuminance sensors are disposed on a separate layer, then illuminance detection is enabled, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illuminance sensor and pixel circuits are formed simultaneously on the same substrate using the same manufacturing process steps. The sensor unit is formed in a sensor region with light receiving elements, and pixel circuits are formed in display regions, both using identical fabrication processes including transistor formation, electrode deposition, and insulation layer creation, thereby simplifying manufacturing.
3Length of stationary object
If illuminance sensors are integrated on the same layer, then thickness is reduced, but light incidence amount on sensor decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The display panel is divided into distinct sensor regions and display regions. The sensor regions are positioned at peripheral areas where the light receiving elements have direct access to external light without being blocked by pixel structures. This local differentiation allows the sensor areas to optimize for light reception while display areas maintain their imaging function.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate is segmented into multiple functional regions including sensor regions and display regions. Each sensor unit is disposed in a dedicated sensor region with its light receiving element positioned to receive external light independently from the pixel circuit areas, allowing simultaneous optimization of both sensing and display functions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This integration reduces the thickness of the display panel, improves the reliability of illuminance detection, and simplifies the manufacturing process by forming the illuminance sensor and pixel circuit simultaneously.
Implementation Method 1
illuminance sensors disposed on the sensor area of the base layer, each of the illuminance sensors including a light receiving element overlapping the sensor area
Data Source
AI summary
A display panel includes: a base layer including an emission area and a sensor area; a pixel circuit disposed on the emission area of the base layer; illuminance sensors disposed on the sensor area of the base layer, each of the illuminance sensors including a light receiving element overlapping the sensor area, the light receiving element disposed to be adjacent to the pixel circuit; light emitting elements disposed on the pixel circuit, each of the light emitting elements including a light emitting layer overlapping the emission area; a black matrix including openings overlapping the light emitting layer; and a color filter disposed on the light emitting elements and the black matrix.