Transparent Dual-Sided Display Using Electrowetting Sub-Pixels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dual-sided and transparent display devices can only operate in one mode at a time, either transparent displaying or dual-sided displaying, and not both simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A transparent dual-sided display device comprising a display panel with front-side and back-side OLED sub-pixels and an electrowetting sub-pixel, controlled by a timing controller and voltage controller, allowing for both transparent and dual-sided displaying modes by adjusting the voltage applied to the electrowetting sub-pixel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the display device uses traditional pixel structures with hollowed portions for transparent displaying, then transparent displaying capability is improved, but dual-sided displaying capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel is divided into multiple sub-pixels (first sub-pixel, second sub-pixel, third sub-pixel, fourth sub-pixel) with different transparency characteristics. Each sub-pixel can be independently controlled, allowing the display to achieve both transparent and dual-sided displaying modes by adjusting the state of individual sub-pixels rather than requiring structural modifications to the entire pixel.
Solution Approach 2:
The display device dynamically switches between transparent and dual-sided displaying modes by controlling the transparency state of sub-pixels. The third and fourth sub-pixels can change their transparency state in response to control signals, enabling the display to adapt its functionality based on operational requirements without physical reconfiguration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the display device is designed for dual-sided displaying with pixels on both sides of substrate, then dual-sided displaying capability is improved, but transparent displaying capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the pixel (sub-pixels) are assigned different transparency qualities. The first and second sub-pixels maintain non-transparent characteristics for dual-sided display, while the third and fourth sub-pixels provide transparent characteristics. This local differentiation allows the same pixel structure to support both transparent and dual-sided displaying functions simultaneously.
3Device complexity
If a single pixel structure is used for both transparent and dual-sided displaying, then device complexity is reduced, but functionality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel structure achieves multi-functionality by incorporating four sub-pixels with different transparency characteristics that can be independently controlled. This universal design allows the same pixel to perform transparent displaying, dual-sided displaying, and mixed modes without requiring separate dedicated structures for each function, thereby maintaining simplicity while enhancing versatility.
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 simultaneous transparent and dual-sided displaying by controlling the electrowetting sub-pixel's transparency and light-blocking states, enhancing the display device's functionality and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
Electrowetting (EW) is a phenomenon of wettability of a liquid drop on an insulating transparent substrate by varying an electric voltage between the liquid drop and the transparent substrate to change, so as to change contact angle to thus cause deformation and displacement of the liquid drop.
Implementation Method 2
The principle of light emission of the OLED device is that when a semiconductor material and an organic light emission material are driven by an electric field, carrier currents are injected and re-combine to cause emission of light.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a transparent dual-sided display device and a driving method thereof. The transparent dual-sided display device includes a display panel including a plurality of sub-pixel groups that each include a front-side OLED sub-pixel, a back-side OLED sub-pixel, and an electrowetting sub-pixel and a plurality of multiplexer modules that each include three thin-film transistors and a timing controller is involved to control a multiplexer module and a source driver, wherein the source driver writes the front-side and back-side output data signals to the front-side OLED sub-pixel and the back-side OLED sub-pixel respectively and applies a reference voltage to the electrowetting sub-pixel, such that controlling can be, through the timing controller, a voltage controller to output a voltage value of the reference voltage to the source driver to control transparency or light-blocking of the electrowetting sub-pixel for simultaneously fulfilling transparent displaying and dual-sided displaying.