Sensor Visibility Reduction via Circular Polarization in Display Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Exposed sensors in electronic devices can create a negative perception of surveillance among users, while light-shielding layers that hide sensors can adversely affect image quality by absorbing visible light.
Innovation Solution
A display device with a cover plate, a display panel, a sensor, and an optical structure that includes a polarizer and a quarter-wave plate, where the quarter-wave plate is positioned between the polarizer and the sensor, to reduce the visibility of the sensor while maintaining image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a light-shielding layer is used to hide the sensor, then the sensor visibility is reduced, but the image quality deteriorates due to absorption of visible light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the system by introducing a polarizer and quarter-wave plate to create circularly polarized light. This allows the sensor to receive visible light while the human eye cannot detect the sensor's presence, resolving the contradiction between sensor visibility and image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an optical structure comprising a polarizer and quarter-wave plate as an intermediary between the sensor and the external environment. This intermediary modifies the light properties so that the sensor can function while remaining invisible to human observers, without requiring a light-shielding layer that would degrade image quality
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
The optical structure reduces the visibility of the sensor to the human eye, thereby improving the negative perception of surveillance among users while allowing visible light to pass through, thus enhancing image quality.
Implementation Method 1
The optical structure is disposed under the cover plate and includes a polarizer and a quarter-wave plate
Implementation Method 2
the quarter-wave plate is disposed between the polarizer and the sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
A display device (1) includes a cover plate (10), a display panel (11), a sensor (12) and an optical structure (13). The display panel (11) is disposed under the cover plate (10). The sensor (12) is disposed under the cover plate (10). The optical structure (13) is disposed under the cover plate (10) and includes a polarizer (130) and a quarter-wave plate (131), wherein the quarter-wave plate (131) is disposed between the polarizer (130) and the sensor (12).