Full-Screen Optical Component for Under-Display Active Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile phone designs cannot achieve a full-screen display due to the need for holes or notches to accommodate active optical devices like sensors, which obstruct the screen-to-body ratio and aesthetic appeal.

Innovation Solution

A full-screen optical component for electronic devices, featuring a backlight module with prism films and a dimmer that directs light at specific angles to allow active light sensors to operate without the need for holes, ensuring light passes through the display screen vertically and maintaining high transmittance and sensitivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If holes or notches are provided in the display screen to accommodate active optical devices, then the optical sensors can function properly, but the screen-to-body ratio is reduced and aesthetic appeal deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical sensor functionalityVSAvoidscreen-to-body ratio
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the active optical sensor from the front display surface to the backlight side of the display screen, utilizing the third dimension (depth/thickness) of the display structure. This allows the sensor to emit and receive light through the display screen without creating visible holes or notches on the front surface, thereby maintaining full-screen appearance while ensuring sensor functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a dimmer as an intermediary component positioned between the light emitter and the display screen. The dimmer directs light at specific angles to optimize the optical path through the display screen, enabling the sensor to function effectively while maintaining the integrity of the full-screen display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If holes are provided for light passage, then active optical devices can emit light, but the display screen cannot achieve real full-screen design

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight emission capabilityVSAvoidfull-screen design
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent relocates the light emitter to the backlight side of the display screen, utilizing the vertical dimension through the display structure. This enables light to pass through the display screen without creating visible openings on the front surface, achieving both light emission capability and real full-screen design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If the light emitter is placed on the display screen side, then the optical path is simplified, but holes must be reserved which reduces screen-to-body ratio

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical path structureVSAvoidscreen-to-body ratio
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent places the light emitter on the backlight side of the display screen, utilizing the vertical dimension to create an optical path that passes through the display screen. This approach maintains a relatively simple optical path structure while avoiding the need for holes or notches on the front display surface, thereby preserving the screen-to-body ratio.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Enables a real full-screen design without visible holes, enhancing the screen-to-body ratio and aesthetic appeal while maintaining the functionality of active light sensors like optical proximity sensors.

Implementation Method 1

the light is then emitted from the first out-light surface after being refracted by the first prism, enters the second in-light surface at a second incident angle that is inclined relative to the vertical direction, and is emitted from the second out-light surface after being refracted by the second prism

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3783528B1All-screen optical component and electronic device
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3783528B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3783528B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3783528B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention provides a full-screen optical component, applied to an electronic device. The electronic device includes a display screen. The optical component includes a backlight module, an active light sensor, and a dimmer. The display screen and the active light sensor are located on two opposite sides of the backlight module. The backlight module includes a first prism film and a second prism film stacked on the first prism film. The first prism film includes several first prisms. The second prism film includes several second prisms. A long axis of the first prism and a long axis of the second prism are perpendicular to each other. The first prism includes a first in-light surface, and the second prism includes a second in-light surface. A display surface of the display screen, the first in-light surface, and the second in-light surface are disposed in parallel. The active light sensor includes a sensor and a light emitter. The dimmer is configured to direct light emitted by the light emitter to the first in-light surface at an incident angle that is inclined relative to a vertical direction, so that the light is then emitted from a second out-light surface, and passes through the display screen at a vertical angle.